E 356 
.W3 W4 
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E 356 
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May 



^ 



UXWKLCOMK N'iSITOllS TO KaKLY WASHINGTON^. , '^Q? 



AuGisT 24, LSI 4. 



iOUCKVS 



Eighty years have now rolled away since the re})ort of 
the British invasion of the infant cai)ital tilled the country 
with a burning indignation against the culpable inefHciency 
of the persons intrusted with its defense. Immediately party 
dilferences vanished; the national honor being at stake, 
every one rallied to the support of the Government, eagerly 
anxious to efface the disgrace heaped upon the country and 
avenge the vandalism committed by the enemy. Ameri- 
can manhood responded at once to the call, soon redeem- 
ing the disaster of that fatal August day by the brilliant 
victories of September 10, 1814, at Baltimore, and .January 
8, 1815, before New Orleans. Condemned by the whole 
civilized world, tliis wanton use of the torch can never 
be forgotten nor condoned; it ever remains a stigma on 
England's fame. The story of the capture has often been 
told, especially by Edward D. Ingraham in 1840 (who 
sought to palliate General Winder's errors), followed by John 
S. Williams' vivid account in 185G, describing in detail the 
official acts that i)receded this eventful affair, while Lieut. 
George R. Gleig in his narrative (■2d edition, London, in 
1826) speaks gloatingly as an invader of the stirring occur- 
rences at Washington, Baltimore, and New Orleans. With 
these standard histories we are all familiar, but the graphic 
recital by Dr .James F.well, at that period the leading 
physician of Washington, of the British occupation of our 
city is probably unknown to the majority of our citizens. 



*The Comniittee on I'al)liavtii)ns dofin it proper to state that in the 
case of the present jtaper they have nia<le an exception to the treneral nile 
that only ori^Mnal contril)ntions are jmhUslied. This is done on aeconnt 
of tile interest of tlie sniyect, and because of tlie rarity at tlie present day 
of the work of Dr Ewell, of which tliis contemporary reord forms a part. 



8— Rk.i\ C\>i,. Hist. S(ic. 



"2 Rerorih of the C'olninl/id IIis((jrirnl Society 

111 the bi'lief tliat it is in every sense wortljy of beinj^ saved 
IVom oblivion as an interesting eontribution to historical 
truth, I subjuit for your information extracts taken from 
what he ealleJ "a concise and impartial liistory of the 
capture of Washington," by a melancholy spectator of that 
awful tragedy. Dr Ewell i)Ossessed amj)le facilities to ac- 
(juire the kncnvledge of all these facts, owing to the circum- 
stance that his own residence, in a prominent site, located at 
the northeast corner of First and A streets southeast (lot 12, 
in square 720), facing the Capitol square, was the identical 
place selected by the commander of the British forces, Gen. 
Robert Ross, as his headquarters. (This square is now in- 
cludeil in the grounds of the new Congressional Library 
building.) Dr I^vcH's dwelling was prc^uinibly one of the 
most attractive on ('apitol Hill, being the corner of the 
block of five hou.ses known as Carroll row, owned by Daniel 
Carroll, of 1 )iiddington. It contained four stories, sur- 
mounted by a pitched roof. A (light of four broad stone 
steps leil up to the massive front entrance, the door of which 
was ailorned by a ponderous iron knocker that aroused the 
neighb(n-hood wlicii rai.scd by some impatient caller in neeil 
of the always popular doctor. But now. having introduced 
the gentleman, I will i)ermit him to unfold the story of his 
own ex[)eriences : 

The 2lth of August, lsll_tl,,ii .hu-k and di^nal .lay! 
tln' darkest and most dismal of all in the .Vmt'rican calcn- 
tlar, which threw sueh a gloom ovlm' the rising glories of my 
C(»untry ! 

But a shoi't time Ijefore that awful ti'agedy I was eongi'atu- 
lating myself — so little do we know what is before us — as 
being happily situateil in a city founde<l by thegreat Wash- 
ton himself and called after his name — a city where h'beral 
natui'e had done so n)ueh and where art and |)opulation 
alone were re(|uisite to erect an emporium that should vie 
with the noblest cities of the ancient world an<l through 
time immiMiioi-ial di-play the grandeur of its high original. 



Univelroiw I'isHor^i lo lutrh/ WitsJiinfjfon 3 

Rut a few (lays, I say, befofo this I was indulj^niit; a train of 
thouiilits so ploasiiiu; to the patriotic bosom, when I heard 
that (he UriLish stpKuh-on in the Cehsapeako bay, havinr,^ 
received a reinforcement, had hmdod a small army at Bene- 
dict, on the river Patiixent. Many of my neighbors ap- 
peared to l)e mueh alarmed that the enemy should be so 
near; but, for myself, I can truly say that my bosom was 
never more entirely a stranger to panic than at that season ; 
for I was firmly persuaded that the enemy couhl have no 
other object in view than the destruction of our flotilla, which, 
unfortunately, had been chaseil, some weeks before, up the 
Patuxent. I could not for a moment suppose it possible that 
he would have had the temerity to a{)[)r()ach this place, par- 
ticularly after giving so long notice of the arrival of the 
van of Atlmiral Cockburn's Heet, which was about the middle 
of July, and it was very natural for them to expect our 
Government would adopt the necessary precaution of having 
a force competent at least to [) re vent the destruction of our 
city.* 

What! to make an attack on Washington, the metropolis 
of the Unitcid States, and in. the interior, too, fifty miles from 
their shipping, with woods and forests enougii between togive 
our marksmen an oi)portunity to cut off ten times their 
number! Under these circumstances, will they ever dream 
of attacking Washington? No, never! With far better 
chance they attacked Fort Stevenson, and also Sackett's 
Harbor and Fort Erie, but the gallant Croghan, Brown, 
Backus, Scott, Gaines, Ripley, Towsou, etc, soon gave them 

*Tlie city of Washington contained in 1814 abont 2,0()0 lion.^e:^, nio:«tly 
in scattered settlements. The population \va.s estimated at — 

City 10,000 

County l.',500 

Georiretown (1,000 

AU'xandria (city and county) 0,.300 

Total liS.OOl) 

in the Di.strict of Ojlunihia, includins,' the 1,S()0 t^laves and 1.700 free 
colored persons. 

57 



4 Hccnrils of tJit L'oliiiiifiia llhtnrical Socidij 

L-iiiise to repent of tlieir tuuu'rity. Ami will tlioy now dare 
inviule the city of \Va.sliin<^4on, with such an immense |)0[)U- 
lation between and such large cities to aid, anil the President, 
Mr Monroe, General Armstrong, Captain Jones, and General 
Winder to protect? Such was my reasoning, and a very fair 
way of reasoning, too, I thought; and I was encouraged in 
this belief by learning that the President antl his (Aibinet 
were in high spirits, and that General Winder, with only a 
small detachment of his army, under the command of the 
gallant Major Peter, of Georgetown, had held the enemy in 
chock for a day or two. 

But, behold I on the evening of the 2.'jd General Winder 
retreated j)rccipitately lo \\'ashington. However, I was not 
still without some consolation, for on the same evening 
Colonel Minor, with his regiment from Virginia, arrived in 
the city a little after sunset. Immediately on his arrival he 
requested me to present him to the President, which I did, 
as I also did my worthy schoolmate, Dr Peake, surgeon of 
the regiment. 

We had not long been seated before the President ob- 
served that Colonel Minor ought to have reported himself 
to the .Secretary of War ; consequently we hastened to the 
lodgings of General Ai-nistrong. After (Vdonel Minor had 
held a short interview with the Secretary, he returned with 
me to my house. Un the way, instead of animating my 
hopes, he became, as it were. Job's comforter, observing — 
such was the astonishing inditlerence manifested on this 
occasion — that he felt no hesitation to declare it as his 
opinion that the city would be sacriliced. Instead of being 
immediately suppiii'd with anr.s and ammunition, he was, 
it seems, instructed to make his men jmt in oi'der the few 
guns which they had brought with them, and in the morn- 
ing to rejtort himself to Colonel Carbei-y, who would fur- 
nish additii)nal arms. JCarly ne.xt morning Colonel Minor 
maile application for the arms, but was informed Col<.»nel 
Carbtiy had gone t)Ut to his counlry-sval the evening be- 
fore. After several hours spent in mo>t painful waiting lor 

."iS 



Unwelcome ]lsi((>rs to Fjirbj WnsliltKjlon 5 

liis n'turn, Colonel Minor was autlioiT/("<l by General Winder 
to oet the arms by any means. Abont this time Colonel 
Carbery rode np ; but, beliold ! aiiutlur cause of delay was 
presented. The arms were dealt out at last, but without 
flints, and, instead of throwing them out by handfuls, they 
were actually counted out, one by one, as carefully as if they 
had been so many guineas ; and it is a fact that after count- 
ing out a considerable number tlu; man employed in this 
economizing business, fearing he had miscounted, insisted 
upon counting them over again. 

Thus was our Republic, at this awful crisis, deprived of 
the services of Colonel Minor and his regiment; for, in con- 
sequence of the above siiameful delay, they were not able 
to join the army before the retreat. 

lleceiving good information that the enemy was in rapid 
march for Bladenslnirg, General Winder, then lying near 
the Eastern Brancfi bridge, moved on to meet him there, 
where General Stansbury, with his brigade from r>altiniore, 
was stationed. 

The reader will observe that Bhidensl)urg is a small vil- 
lage, about fjve miles from the capital, on the Anacostia or 
Eastern -I) ranch, where it is narrowed to a creek, which is 
passed on a bridge and is everywhere above fordable. The 
village lies on the east side of this creek. On the west is a 
tine rising ground, with fences and bushes, favorable to an 
invaded force of good marksmen, besides a small breast- 
work which was hastily cast up. Thiss[)ot CicMierals Winder 
and Stansbury fixed on to receive the enemy, who, about 
twelve o'clock, came in full view on the hills of Bladens- 
burg, and very soon afterwards the battle commenced. 

The enemy, finding on getting near the bridge he should 
have to pass a defile between the creek and marsh in front 
of our battery, instantly displayed a heavy column to the 
right and I'asscd the lord higher up the creek. This judi- 
cious movement, by dei)riving our men of the promised 
advantages of their battery, as also presenting an appear- 
ance of an attempt to surround them, excited their alarm and 

59 



lltconU of the Colanihui Illtitoiical Sucidij 

despoiidonce. The liritish, liaviiif^ but one or two six- 
pounders and knowinjjj that tiie whole success of the ex- 
pedition depended on earryinii- evi-rything with a "ctiup de 
main,'" pushed on with a rapidity and lirinncss which raw 
troojjs were ntjt tu have been expecteil to resist, and conse- 
quently a jrenoral rout of the militia ensued. 

Tliat the enemy would have met with a \'cry dillrrriit 
recej)tion had our troojts been in a tolerable state of j)rej»ara- 
tion is evident from the followin<y fact: The <!;allant liarney, 
Martin, and their brave comrades, of the flotilla, and Miller, 
Sevier, and Cirayson, of the marine corps, were on the field 
of battle, but caught nothing of the epi<lemic fright. On 
the contrary, eager to stop the progress of the enemy, they 
came up in a trot, opening at the same time a destructive 
fire, which made hideous lanes through the British columns; 
but these columns were familiar with the ravages of dt-ath, 
and, fighting under the eye of Ross and headed by Thorn- 
ton, Wood, and Brown, fearlessly filling up the chasms of 
fate, pushed forward with undaunted courage; but it was 
not for a few liundi'cd troops to repel the enemy, and at 
length, overi)Owered by such va.st superiority of numbers, 
their ammunition wagons retreating and themselve.- nearly 
surrounded, they were con?trained to retire, leaving their 
commanding otlicers, the gallant Uarney and Miller, dar.- 
gerously wounded on the field. 

I shall not attempt to describe my feelings during this 
awful conHict between the enemy and my countrymen. 
From the fretpient advices brought that morning of the ap- 
proach of the enemy, as also fi-om the general movement of 
our troops to meet him at IMadensbui'g, the inhai>itants of 
Washington hatl been some time in a state of extreme anx- 
iety, expecting every moment the report of the guns that 
should aiuiounee the eommenet-ment of the battle. 

Bt'tween 12 and 1, while with my Irtinbling family in 
the third story of my house, we belu-hl the rockets ascend- 
ing, and soon heard the roar of cannon. When the tiring 
had ceaseil, my feelings were left in fearful lluetuatiou, now 



Unwelcome l^'isiloys to Fmi-Iij WiixJiiiKjtoii 7 

fiindly lidpiiii;- (hat itiy countrymen had prevailed, then 
awt'iiUy fearing that all was lost. This anguish of susjiense 
was, however, but momentar}'. I soon discovered the dust 
beginning to rise above the forests in tliick clouds, on whose 
dark toj)s, growing larger and larger every minute and rap- 
idly advancing. I read the dismal fate that awaited us. 
Presently 1 l)clu'M the uiiloi'tunatc Secretary of War and 
suite in full flight, followed by crowds of gentlemen on 
horse-back, some of whom loudly bawled out as they came 
on " FI}'-, fly ! the I'ufiians are at hand ! If you cannot get 
awa}' yourselves, for God's sake send off your wives and 
daughters, for the ruffians are at hand !" 

When I surveyed the extended lines of our infantry and 
cavalry envelope<l in clouds of dust, as if universal nature 
was in tumultuous motion, all heightened by the fearful 
apprehension that the horrid scenes exhibited by the enemy 
in Hampton and Havre de (Jrace were about to be enacted 
in Washington, I felt myself palsied with horror, and as if 
the measure of my distress was not yet full, my wife, standing 
by my side with looks wild with terror, as though she be- 
held the enemy in sight, cried out, " Oh! what shall we do? 
what shall we do? yonder they are coming!" and fell into 
convulsions, my two daughters shrieking by her side. The 
reader, especially if he be an affectionate husband, may form 
some idea of my affliction. I shall not attempt to describe 
it. 

Supposing now that the tragedy of destruction was about 
to commence, and finding it im[)o.ssible to obtain evenacnrt 
to remove my family to the country, I took my wife and two 
daughters, a little before sunset, and, leaving my house and 
property in the hands of servants, went to the house of a 
sick lad\-. Although Mrs Orr, the lady whom I allude to, did 
not live more than a hundred yards from my house, I consid- 
ered it a place of greater safety, as her extreme ill state of 
health would doubtless have protecteil hor. even had the 
enemy been, as was represented, " rullians." Moreover, I 
was induciMl to go to the house of ^^rs <.)rr in conse<juence 

(U 



S Records of the Cjlanibia Illstorlcal Society 

of her earnest entreaties, as her husband was from home, 
and some of lier servants had run off with tlie frightened 
multitu<le, leaving her in a situation truly distressing. 

About twiHghJ, the enemy ma<le his ajj^earance in the 
city, which was announced by the firing of muskets from 
the house of Mr Sewall,'^ followed by several volleys from the 
British. The fire of our men from Mr Sewall's house kille^^ 
two British soldiers. wounde<l several, and killed the horse 
of Major General Ross. The consequence was, this hou.se 
was immediately .set on tire and much valuable furniture 
consumed with it ; and I was informed by .some of the Brit- 
ish officers that it was a most fortunate thing that Major 
General Ross was not killed, for in that event it would have 
been impossible to have restrained the soldiery, who idolized 
him, from committing the most horrid outrages, boih on our 
city and its inhabitants. 

It was not many minutes after the exhibition of this 
.scene before we were i)re.sented with the spectacle .so much 
dreaded— a full view of the advance of the British army in 
the Capitol square. About this time the navy yard was 
committed to flames by Commodore Tingey, in pursuance 
of orders from Secretary Jones, and very soon afterwards the 
British .set fire to the Capitol, the President's house, and the 
War office. The Treasury office shared a similar fate the 
next morning. The conflagration of these noble and splen- 
did buildings spread a glare over the night that was truly 
awful. But the conflagration of our largi', new frigate, 
nearly ready to launch, and the new sloop-ot'-war, e(piipi>ed, 
with all the adjacent magazines, filled with naval stores, 
exhibited an appearance still incoraparably more terrifict 

*Mr Sfwall's honsiMvas on tin- n-Mlliwi'st cc^riuT of Si'coii.l .«trei't ainl 
MarylaiKl avenue noitliea.<t. 

tTlie total value of the i)u1)lie property ilostroye<l \va.«al>oat -51, WO.OCKl. 
The .Xiiacostia l)ritl-.:e ( lien ninir'!*) was burnt by our own army; the 
Kastern Branch bri.lire (Pennsylvania avenue i by Cajitain l'rei<:liti>n. 
umler onlei-s of the Secretary of tlie Navy, while the Potomac bri<li:e 
(Lon._' bridirc) was set on tire Ity the British at the city end and by our 
own forces at the Virj,'inia side. 



Unwelcome Visitor.'^ to Earlij Waxltinglnn 9 

l\\ coininou willi oilier www 1 have (Irnnk of the bitter 
cup of allliction, but it was rcsorvetl for that doleful nip;lit 
to teaeh mc that i)rivate misfortune \vei.«;hs but as the dust 
in the balance against the far heavier load of i)ublie calani- 
itv. To behold so great a calamity as this — the Capital of 
our country seized u[)on by a small army and all its grand 
public buildings and ships wrapped in llam(>s — what wonder 
that it shouhl hav(^ filled all hearts with consternation, and 
even frightened some into convulsions! 

Had such a number of trooi)S as military men might have 
deemed sufficient been timely provided for the defense of 
the metropolis, and had those troops, in all points well pre- 
pared, gone forth and met the enemy in a gallant conflict, 
the feelings of the nation even under discomfiture would 
not have been so grievously wounded, " for the victory is of 
God." But so shamefully was the public interest and honor 
sported with on this occasion that nothing but the over- 
throw of the enemy at Niagara, Chippewa, Erie, Sandusky, 
and New Orleans, together with the brilliant achievements of 
our infant navy, could ever again elevate the countenance of 
an American citizen, or enable him to sup[)ort the spirit and 
dignity of a man, for when the British, four thousand 
strong, made their appearance on the hills of Bladensburg, 
dressed in their crimson uniforms, and began to press on to 
the charge, our militiamen, about six thousand, generally 
gave way; and without wonder, for nothing had been done 
to prei)are them for such a conflict. 

Raw troo[)S, suddenly brought together and taken, as it 
were, by surprise, were, as is very natural, seized with con- 
sternation. Some of the officers, bewildered, seemed at a 
loss who should command, the men whom to obey ; some 
were destitute of arms, others of ammunition, and many, by 
long marching and countermarching, without rest or re- 
freshment, were so broken down that thoy were not able to 
sustain such a shock. 

But while I lament the causes which led to the discom- 
fiture of the militia in gt.MU'ral, 1 feel it my duty to recognize 

9— Rec. Coi.. Hist. Soc. 63 



10 Jicconls of the L'ohuiih'ui Jlist'jrical -''^ocittij 

those smaller and therefore still more glorious exceptions, 
the District militia, or at least tiiose who were on the tielJ 
of battle. So far from thrir I'uniiini; or retreating' in ilis- 
order, they generally exhibited every mark of heroism, par- 
ticularly the volunteer companies, who did not withdraw 
until ordered the second time to retreat. 

I have thought it a duty I owe my countrymen thus to 
dwell on this disastrous affair as furnishing an instructive 
lesson, at any rate, to all future Secretaries of War. I must 
confess, however, that I find much comfort in the belief that 
no di.saster of this sort is to be apprehended while the ofHce 
continues to be filled by the lion. William II. Crawford, 
whose talents and virtues are so highly and deservedly ap- 
preciated. 

How an undisci[)linc'd militia under such distressing cir- 
cumstances as above relati.(l will behave on any future 
occasion may be awfully inferred from their behavior in the 
pa.st. Soon as the enemy began to tlirow his rockets many 
of the raw militiamen, at sight of the.se strange shooting 
stars, as they were a.scending, roared out, "See, see! There 
they go, there they go ! " But wlien the rockets were .seen 
descending in a direction towards themselves they loudly 
bawled out again, " Xo ; lieri' tlicy coiiie, here they come!" 
and, dropj)ing their guns, lied like iVightened shcej) in every 
direction, execjit, indeed, towards the enemy. 

A gentleman, a short distance beyond Bladenshurg. hear- 
in>'- the rei)ort of the cannon, immediatelv rode towards the 
field of battle, but before he had gone far he met several compa- 
nies of the militia in full llight. " What ! " says he, " .soldiers, 
you anMiot running?" "Oh, no!" exclaimed one of tlu'in : 
"we have done our duty: our ammunition is spent. We 
gave it to them, boys, didn't \\<-'!" "Yes," returne«l his 
companions; " wepep[)erid the raseals ; we strewed the il — d 
redcoats, and if the others will only do their duty, not one of 
them will ever get back to their vessels." The gentleman, 
sus[)ecting their poltroonism ami obtaining by strategem a 



(H 



{Jnivelcoine ]'isilui:'< ht I'jirhj WarJihif/lon 11 

peep iiit'i tlicir ciirtriil^r-Iioxcs, round tlicv were full, except 
the sinolc cartridge with which their guns were loaded. 

Another anecdote and I have done. A militia oflieer 
making his retreat attempted by way of a short cut to cross 
a dee[), oozy marsh, which presently stoj)ped both himself 
and his horse. In endeavoring to extricate himself he re- 
ceived a small scratch, which made him bawl out, " I am 
wounded ! I am mortally wounded ! " Some of the soldiers, 
supposing from his cries that the British were clo.se at their 
heels, only ran the faster. However, a few, \vi[)ing their 
eyes and not beholding the daz/ding redcoats, went to his 
relief. On examining the back i)art of his thigh, where he 
said he had received his mortal wound, they found it to be 
nothing more than a prick of his own spur. 

With such disorderly, panic-struck creatures, who but 
must commend General Winder for ordering a retreat, not, 
indeed, to save these fugitives, for they took care to save 
themselves, but to save the flower of our gallant yeomanry^ 
wdio were eager for a conflict wherein, at such odds against 
them, they must certainly have perished, for it was but too 
plain that our sacred Capitol was doomed to fall. 

Never shall I forget my tortured feelings when I beheld 
that noble edifice wra[)t in flames, which, bursting through 
the windows and mounting far above its summits, with a 
noi.se like thunder, hlled all the saddened night with a dis- 
mal gloom. 

To heisrhteu our alarms and those of Mrs Orr, we were 
suddenly startled by a most tremendous rapping at the 
door. .Soon as the door was opened five or six British sol- 
diers presented themselves, asking very i)olitely for some- 
thing to eat. Instantly a cold ham, with loaf bread and 
butter and wine, were set before them, which they [)artook 
of, conducting themselves with the utmost good behavior. 

Presently I bcdield a light in every room in my house, 
wdiich, with the rellection from the Capitol, then in llames, 
led me to fear it was on fire. Not havL.g removed any part 
of my proi^erty, and anxious to save at least my medical 

65 



12 Hccords of the Colarnbiu ll'idot'ical ^Suctitij 

library, 1 coininunicatfd my i'oars to the soldiers wliu uc-iv 
at supper an<l solicited their aid. The sergeant observed he 
could not think it possible my house was on fire, but,atany 
rate, if I thought so, he and his nu-n were ready to go with 
me and give all the aid in their j)ower. In a few minutes, 
however, I found out my mistake by the sudden extinction 
of the lights, and also by the arrival of my servant, who 
informed me tliat my house had been plundered by the 
Britisli soldiers. While I was .standing at the door, the Rev 
Mr McCorinick came up and told me, if I would accomjuiny 
him, he would introduce me to Major General Ross and 
Aduiiral Cockburn, with whom he had been conversing and 
found them to be " perfect gentlemen." Hoping from tliis 
circumstance to derive security to my house and what 
property remained, I readily accompanied him and was 
introduced, as he thought, to General Ross, but it was 
unwittingly to the admiral, who rectified the mistake of the 
reverend gentleman by saying, in his quick and piercing 
tone, " My name is Cockburn, sir." I told him I had under- 
stood that private jiroperty was to be lield sacred, and that I 
placed im[)licit confidence in the report. He answered that 
" it would be so deemed." I replied that '' some of my fur- 
niture, apparel, and plate had been idundered." 
" With whom did you confide your proi>erty. sir?" 
I answered, " With my servants." 

" Well, sir, let me tell you it was very ill confidence to 
repose your proi)erty in the care of servants." 

In the meantime General Ross came u}), to wln.m I was 
also introduced. He had Just come in time to inter Iroin 
wh.it Admiral Cockbuni had said that my house had been 
robbed. In a tone that will forever endear him to me as a 
" perfect gentleman " indeed, he observed he was very sorry 
to hear that my house had been disturbed, and begged that 
I would tell him which it was and he would order a .sentinel 
to guard it. We were then standing before my door, the 
south end of ("arrolTs row, facing the Capitol. 
•• This is my house, sir," .sai<l 1. 



UnwclcoiilC ]'istlni:s (o Fjirhj Wash i lit/Ion 13 

Willi all amiable (.Miiljarrassnicnt ho roplied, " Wliy, sir, 
tlii.s is the lu)U.se \vc had pitched on lor our head<jiiarter.s." 

I told him " 1 was <j:lad of it and regrettod that he had not 
takiMi it earlier, as my i)n)[)erty would then have been pro- 
tected." 

lie ol)served he "could never think of trespassing un the 
repose of a pri\'ate family, and would order his baggage out 
of my house immediately."' 

I earnestly begged he would still consider it as his head- 
quarters. 

" Well, sir," said he, '"since you are so good as to insist 
on my staving at your house, I consent; but I will endeavor 
to give you as little trouble as possible. Any apartment 
under your roof will suffice me." 

I asked him to accompany me and I would show him a 
room. He assented and I conducted him to my own bed- 
chamber, which was the best furnishe<l in my house, with 
an uncommonly large mattress on the bed. He refused for 
some time to accept of it, and insisted I should go and bring 
Mrs Ewell home, observing that I might depend on it my 
family should be just as safe as they were the evening be- 
fore, when the American army was liere; "for," continued 
he, '■ I am myself a married man, have several sweet chil- 
dren, and venerate the sanctities of the conjugal and do- 
mestic relations."' 

I feel no fear of otrending my virtuous counti-ymen l)y 
exhibiting even in an enemy such strokes of relinemeiit ami 
generosity as tliese. Thank (Jod.such achievements are too 
congenial with their own spirit and manners not to be read 
with pleasure. 

The commander-in-chief of a victorious army, carrying 
himself with such consummate modesty and [)oliteness to 
tiiose whom the fortune of war had j)laced in Ins power, is 
a spectacle too honorable to human nature and too con- 
ducive to the general good to give otfcuse. 

In all wars there are brutes on both sides, whose .savage 
examples would turn men into demons and war into a 

67 



14 Jlcconh of the Coluinliid Uistoi'lrtd Socidi/. 

liorrid slrugglo for inutaal .shuii^diter and oxterini nation. 
All are concerned to oppose examples so detestable. Then 
let all nnfurl the counter-examples of those heroic spirits 
who mourn over the calamities which they are obliged to 
inflict, and treat the vanquished as brothers. The lovely 
sij^ht will attract the eyes of all, and while they admire 
they may imitate. Witii this fond hope I shall go on occa- 
sionally to,entertain my readers with such anecdotes of the 
British officers as may contrii)ute, now that the war is at an 
end, to rekindle the i)lcasant llame of former friendship, and 
lead to the performance of those fraternal acts which will 
sratifv the common i)arcnt of us all. 

Having thus made a virtue of necessity, and from true 
policy as well as politeness left my house and furnituie in 
])Ossession of the British general and admiral, I went down 
to my family at Mrs Orr's. 

The next morning, about the hour of breakfast, I returned, 
and as I approached my house I saw the .soldier who was 
holding the horse of General Ross suddeidy fall down in a 
fit. I hastened to the i)oor fellow and opened a vein.whieh 
gave him immediate relief. While I was attending to him 
a British sergeant came up at the head of a file of soMiers, 
one of whom desired me, rather roughly, to give him some 
water. Withoutsuspcctingotfense, Icalled to my servant and 
ordered him to bring out a pitcher of water. 

What moaning the Englishman could have attached to 
the word pitcher 1 know not, but, kin<lling into a violent 
passion, he exclaimed, " Vou d— d rebel, do you think I am 
a beast, to drink out of a pitcher? " At this moment (Jen- 
eral lloss, who had ..vnheanl the insolent language of his 
stdilier, stepi)ed u}). The man, greatly aba.sheil, instantly 
turned his face and .seemed as if he would have shrunk 
among his comradi-s, but the general, with every mark of 
displeasuri! in his countenance, jerking him by the collar, 
exclaimed, " Villain, is this the way you speak to a gentle- 
man, and in the moment, too, that he is doing a kindness to 



(kS 



Unwelcome llxilors io Karhj Wm^hiiKitnn !■> 

a sick iVl low-soldier of your own ? Sergeant, what sort of a 
man is this? " 

The sergeant, with considerable trepidation, rc[)lied, 
" Why, sir, he is a pretty good sort of a man, I believe, sir." 

"A pretty good sort of a man, sir?" replied the general ; 
" a pretty good sort of a man, to speak to a gentleman in 
this style! Very well, sir ; this conduct shall not pass un- 
noticed." 

He then turned to me, and after thanking me for my 
"goodness," as he called it, to his fainting soldier, observed 
that in all armies there were some scoundrels to be found, 
and that he was sorry to say that there were too many of 
that description in his arm3\ 

Some time after this, Mrs Ewell and my daughters came 
to Mrs MeCardell's. next door to my house. As soon as 
Captain Palmer, who had been in her company at Mrs 
Orr's, saw her coming, he moved on with General Ross to 
meet her and very politely introduced her to him. The 
general shook her hand with every mark of undissembled 
friendship; expressed his deep regret to learn that she had 
been so seriously frightened, and lamented sincerely the 
necessity that had given cause to these tragedies, namely^ 
the burning of the British capital in Canada. Had the 
capital of Canada been burnt with the approbation of our 
Government, there might have l)een some apology for the 
shameful destruction of our noble buildings, but I am 
happy in the belief that though this was the impression of 
General Ro.ss, it was not an act of the Government. 

Mrs Ewell, sensible of such unexpected attentions, made 
every acknowledgment that her confusion would j)ormit and 
endeavored to relax her melancholy into a smile, but it was 
evidently an act of con.straint. Grief was too deeply seated 
to be thus easily banished from her cheeks, which still wore 
the marks of tears and fright, and which evidently excited 
the tendercst sympathies of (reneral Ross as well as of the 
other officers. 

Mrs Kwell was but a short time at Mrs MeCardell's 

69 



IG Jlrconls of tli( ('nliiin/iin HiMntinil Soclct}/ 

before Atliniral Cockburn paid his respects to lior, and 
ill lii.s ap[)arcntly rou«;li way asked, " Pray, madam, what 
could have alarmed you so ? Di«l you take us for savages ? " 
Her confusion preventing her from making a" reply, he 
added, "Ay, madam, I can easily account for your terror- 
I see from the files in your house tiiat you are fond of read- 
ing those papers wliich delight to make devils of us." It 
is but justice to Admiral Cockburn to declare that he fre- 
quently came to Mrs. McCardelTs, making inquiries about 
tlie state of Mrs EwelTs si)irits and endeavoring to console 
her. 

On my observing to lieneral Uoss that it was a great i>ity 
the elegant library had l)een l)urnt with the Capitol, he re- 
plied, with much concern, " I lament most sincerely I was 
not ap[»ri/.ed of the circumstance, for had T known it in 
time the books would most certainly have been saved." 

" Neither do I suppose, general," said I, "you would have 
burnt tlie President's house had Mrs Madison remained at 
home." 

"No, sir," replitMJ ho: " 1 make war neither against letters 
nor ladies, and 1 have heard so much in praise of Mrs Madi- 
son that I would rather protect than burn a house which 
sheltered such an excellent lady." 

The saying that "brave men are always generous" was 
siunallv illustrated in the pleasure that <;eneral Ross mani- 
tested ill praising Comuiiidoi'e Pai'iiey for lii< behavior in t.ie 
battle of Bladensburg. 

"A brave otiicer, sir," said he. " He had only a handful 
of men with him, and yet he gave us a very severe shock. 
I am .-oii-y he was wouiidetl. However, I immediately gave 
him a i)arole and 1 hope he will do well. Had half your 
armv," continued he, " l)een composed of such men as the 
commodore commanded, with the advantage you h;id in 
choosing your po-itioii. we should never have got to your 
city." 

What t'videiu'ed more the magnanimity of tliis otHcer, he 
never uttereil an expression in my j)resence against the l*resi- 

7U 



Unwelcome Visitors to Karl;/ \V<ii<li'n>glon 17 

(lent or any of the officers of the ( Jovornniont, hut often cx- 
|)re.sso(l the deepest regret that war had taken phiee between 
two nations so nearly allied in consanguinity and interest. 
1 can, moreover, truly say I never saw tiie sunbeam of one 
cheerful smile on CJeneral llossall the time he was in Wash- 
ington. His countenance seemed constantly shrouded in the 
close shades of a thoughtful mind. 

The favorable opinion which the reader has formed of 
General Ross will not be lessened by the following facts: 

The morning after the conflagration a silly man from 
Ohio, mounted on an elegant horse, came to the British 
camp. What was liis object is to this day a secret; but, at 
anv rate, to guard against the worst the British officers took 
him uj), and would no doubt have l)een glad to have gotten 
his horse. For my own part, I was of o[)inion at first that 
he was a traitor, and therefore took particular notice of him. 
Presently an affair happened wliich served to persuade me 
that my opinion had been erroneous. Considering it doubt- 
ful whether the officers would let him go, he came to the 
desperate resolution to mount his horse and make his escape, 
placing his safety on the speed of the animal. He had 
scarcely started before Major Hamilton, an aid of General 
Ross, with two or three sergeants, mounted their best horses 
and went in full pursuit. The hue; and cry after him spread 
like lightning, and few races over attractcil more s[)ectators 
or made more noise in so short a time. They had not, how- 
ever, run niDPo than a mile towards the Eastern brancli l)e- 
fore the horse of the Ohio man fell and by some means or 
other broke the legs of the rider. 

The regret which General Ross expres.sed at the fate of 
the poor man indicated a most feeling heart, and he assured 
me that it was not his intention to have detained the man 
or his horse longer than the evening. He then ordered the 
animal to be put in my stal)le, with a request that I would 
have him restored to the owner. 

The British soldier who was ordered to take the horse to 
my stable muttered exceedingly that so elegant a hor.se 

10— Uki'. Coi,. Hist. Soc. 71 



18 llccorth of titc Colaiiibia Historical Socittij 

should be <;iv(jn uj), and as soon as the general had set out 
with the army the same follow oame back with a lie in his 
mouth, sayinjL!: he was ordered by the general to take the 
horse away. I was at a loss how to aet. However, not find- 
ing myself out of danger, I delivered him up: but, behold! 
the next morning Daniel Carroll, Esq., of Duddington, rode 
to my house and congratulated me that my horse was safe. 
1 told him yes, through the goodness of the commanding 
otlicer, my horse was given up to me immediately on making 
application, ami that he then was in my stable. 

" Wliy," .said he, with some surprise, "I was instructed 
by Mr Sewall to inform you that General Ross had left your 
horse in the care of Captain (Jantt." 

This amiable officer, it seems, seeing the horse next morn- 
ing in camp and knowing the history of him, could not rest 
until he had placed him in the hands of Captain Gantt on 
the road, with a request that he would deliver him to me, 
for that I knew how he was to be disposed of. 

All generous Americans will doubtless pronounce Major 
General Ross a magnanimous enemy. Surely the instances 
already cited prove his claim to that high character, and 
surely he deserves it who, when told that our barracks, 
which, according to the usages of war, he had condemned, 
could not be burnt without injuring private property, im- 
mediately countermanded his own onler an«l thus saved to 
us tliat noble range of buildings. 

As nothing is more [)leasing than to meet with instances 
of generosity in an eneniy, 1 cannot forbear recording .some 
traits of the magnanimous sort in the character of Admiral 
Cockburn. At tliis I know some of my readers will startle. 
''What! magnanimous traits in Admiral Cockburn I Im- 
possible!" To such I beg leave only to .say I am about to 
state facts whirh came under my own notice, and, as they 
are honorable to that human nature of which we all partake, 
1 trust they will alford i)leasure to every ri'ader who has a 
soul to enjoy a virtuous action, though in an enemy. 

The terrc»r struck into the gotxl people of our city by the 



IJilicrlcoiiU: llsilors In Kdflu W'dsli i in/loii l'.> 

eaptiiri' ami coiillai;ratioii as aforesaid rolletl on in such 
coiij^ionK'rating- Hoods to Alexandria that hy the time it 
reached th.it place it had ac(iuired a swell of mour.tainous 
horrors, that ap[)ear to have entirely j)rostrated the spirits 
of the Alexandrians. Men, women, and children in that 
defenseless place saw nothing in their frightened fancies but 
the sudden and total destruction of their rising city by the 
British army then at Washington and the British squadron, 
under Captain Gordon, coming uj) the river. 

In this alarming situation they very wisely determined to 
throw themselves on the generosity of the enemy and sup- 
plicate security for their town on the humble conditions of 
capitulation. As men in time of their troubles seem nat- 
urallv to look for a blessing through the ministration of the 
godly, the Alexandrians selected four of their citizens dis- 
tinouished for pietv and morals — as Drs Muir and Dick and 
Messrs Jonathan Swift and Wilham Swann. They arrived 
during the dreadful tornado which we experienced on that 
memorable day, and, as I happened to be sitting in my 
dining-room with Admiral Cockburn when these delegates 
presented themselves, I had a fair opportunity to hear every 
word that pa.ssed on this occasion. Soon as they communi- 
cated to the admiral the object of their mission he replied, 
with the brevity that characterized him. " Gentlemen. I have 
nothing to say until you first tell me whether Captain Gor- 
don is in sight of Alexandria or not." 

The reply was that Ca|)tain Gordon was not in sight of 
Alexandria. 

" Well, then, gentlemen.'' continued he, " 1 am ready to 
nef^otiate with you. And now all 1 have to say is that we 
want provisions and must have them ; but let me tell you 
that for every article we take you shall be allowed a fair 
price." 

Upon this they very .soon retired. 

Scarcely had those gentlemen left Admiral Cockl)urn be- 
fore one of his officers entered the room and told him that 



73 



20 Hccoiil.s of (he Culii.inhia HiMuiiciil iSucidij 

the bauk"^" could not be burnt without injuiini; private prop- 
erty. 

" Well, then," said he, .sternly. "' pull it down." 

Though I t'elt .somewhat of awe in the |jre.sence of this son 
of Neptune, yet I could not here refrain from interpo.sing 
for the .safety of the bank. 

"Admiral Cockburn," said I, "you do not wish to injure 
private property?" "No," said he, " I do not : but this is 
public property." 

" No, sir," I continued, " the United States have no bank 
here now; this is alto^^cther private i)roperty." 

"Arc you certain of that," said he. " Yes, sir," I replied, 
" I pledge my honor it is private proi)erty." 

" Well, then," said he to the otHcer, " let it alone." 

There was anotherca.se in which I had the satisfaction to 
save the property of a valuable citizen. As T was standing 
on the pavement near my door, which, as I said, the general 
and admiral had used as headquarters, a Briti.-^h ofHcer ob- 
served in my presence, "Well, we shall be done with burn- 
ing when the ro})e-walks are burnt and that handsome 
building yonder," pointing at the hou,se of my pious and 
worthy neighbor, Elias B. Caldwell, Es(i. 

" Why, certainly you arc not going to burn that house, 
Cai)tain," said I. " Yes, sii." rr[ilied he, " we shall." " It is 
not public proi)orty, ' I said. " No matter for that : there is 
public property at the house," alluding to some cartridges 
and oartridge-boxes which had l)L'i.'n K'I't there: "ami be- 
sides," continued he, " it belongs to a man who lia< lucn 
very active against us." 

" It is true," i-ej)lied I, " .Mr ( aid well i< captain of a volun- 
teer company and a brave man; l)ut brave men do not bear 
malice against each other f(jr doing their duty : on the con- 
trary, respect thein the more for it, as (Ii'nei'al Ross 3'estcr- 
day did Commodore IJarney. and therefore 1 hope that as 

*TIk' liaiik .'^ouu'lit to lu" tk'.-itioyod \\a.< tlu- I'.aiik uf Wa.-^liiiiu'ton, tln'ii 
located oil lot 7, .«iiiiare (ilK), .New .lersi-y avi-nuo s:oiiliR'a.>*t, near IJ .>^tivet. 
TUl' original biiiMiiig i?^ ?-till in existence. 

74 



('nivclcoiiic I'^isitnr.^ If) /'Jirli/ W'lish'nujlon. 21 

tlii-^ house is private property it will not be destroyed." lie 
paused lor a luoinent, then went to (.ieneral Ross, who, I 
suppose, put a stop to it, for the house was not hurnt. 

I did also what 1 eould to save the I'ope-waiks '•■ of Uev Mr 
Chalmers, Mr Kinni^old, and Mr Heath, hut it was in vain, 
for they ohserved that they were determined to spare nothing 
that made in I'avor of our navy. 

I will relate another anecdote of the admiral, and let the 
reader Judge foi' himself: 

On the "ioth, in the afternoon, just as the general and 
admiral, who were standing on the pavement at my door, 
were notified hy their servant that dinner was ready, a 
dirtydooking woman, stained with blood, came running up 
and screaming out as she came, '' 0, I am killed, I am killed ! 
a British sailor has killed me I " 

Instantly Admiral ('Ockl>urn, with every mark of indig- 
nation in his countenance, gave orders for the sailors to be 
mustered on parade, and that the man whom she designated 
as the per[)etrator of the act should be shot at the Capitol 
without one moment's delay. 

The general and admiral, with their suites, then went up 
to dinner, leaving Dr Doddy and myself to examine the 
wounds of the woman, whom we had conveyed to the 
hospital. On finding this poor wretch, \\\ her drunken 
delirium, sometimes cursing a British sailor and some- 
times an American soldier as her murderer, and was in 
no condition to designate who hail iiillieted the wounds, 
which, after all the noise, were (juite lieshy and slight, I 
re«|uested Dr Doddy to communicate her situation to the 
admiral, to [irevent an innocent person from suilering death 
on her account. Presently the doctor returned with the 
compliments of General Ross and Admiral Cocklmrn. who 
wished to see me. 

I went up and found that they had dined, but the table cov- 
ered with wine. General Ros.s, politely bowing and waving 

*All the rope-walks wero in East Washington. 



22 liccords of tlic Culnin/tla lliatorual Sucidij 

his liaiul to a chair that .stood In- him, invited ino to sit 
do'AU and take a glass of wine uilii thcin. Admiral Cock- 
l)urn, then addressin<; me, said : " \Vc were determined, sir, 
to have the British sailor shot who stabbed that poor woman, 
but it gives us j)leasure to learn that it is your opinion her 
wounds are not mortal. As she has, however, been wounded, 
and more than probable by one of our men, we think it but 
just she should be cured at our expense. That part of the 
business we shall be obliged to confide to yon. and for your 
trouble we beg you to accept of this trille." Then he reaelied 
out to me a [)arcel of gold — six doui)loons. 

After thaiiking him for such generosity I told him he 
must excuse me from taking so large a fee. '" The wounds," 
said I, "Admiral Cockburn, are altogether flesh wounds, of 
which she will soon recover; and my attentions to her, even 
though I was influenced solely by pecuniary considerations, 
cannot deserve so large a reward." 

At that word his face reddened and he exclaimed : " Large, 
mv good sir! We are only mortitied to think it is so small, 
but it is, I assure you, all tlie specie we have with us. If 
you will accept a bill on our government, we will make it 
better worth your services." 

I told him I could not accept a bill, for that the fee he 
now tendered was much too ample. Jle, however, pressed 
it on me with an earnestness wiiich I could no longer resist. 

Nothing, to be sure, was ever more j)rovidential than the 
receipt of this money. I do not mean for the wounded 
woman, for she, a common strumpet, being slightly hurt, 
.soon got well without mueh aid of tiie admiral's doubloons: 
but 1 allude to worthier subjects. I allude to the sick and 
wounded of the American and liritish .«^oMiers, who, but for 
this supply, must — .some of them, at least — have inevitably 
perished; l\>r, to be candid, all my fund- were exhausted 
previous to the conflagration in allbrding refreshments to 
my friends and wearied countrymen who needed sueh hos- 
l>italities and who had nobly volunteered their services in 
the defense of the metrojiolis. 



71) 



Unwelcome Visiforfi to I'Jurh/ Wdsliiiif/lnii 23 

'PluM-f was, for cxain[)le, John Stockton, of tlu; rifle corps, 
fi'oin Ualtinioro, coinmanded by the valiant Major IMukncy, 
who lay very desperately woumled for two days on the held 
of battle. \\y mere aceidnit lieariiiL;- of his situa(i(tn, I 
pressed a cider cart from the country and had him brought 
in, extracted the ball, dressed his wounds, which were as- 
suming a gangi'enous state, and pjciilil'iilly supplied him 
for several weeks with the best nourishment from my table. 
Thus was this worthy soldier snatclied from the yawning 
grave. 

There were also forty-seven of the British soldiers who 
were most miserably mangled by the terrible explosion at 
Greenleaf's point, the greater part of whom would certainly 
have perished, as the (lovernmeiit made no provision for 
them until after the third day, had it not been for the ad- 
miral's gold, which, by immediate transmutation into sugar, 
coffee, tea, milk, rice, arrow-root, bread, meats, vegetables, 
and fruits, was early ai)})lietl to sustain their exhausted 
frames. 

It may gratify the generous reader on more accounts 
than one to hear the tragical history of that affair. About 
2 o'cloo-k on the 25th a British captain, with a com[)any of 
soldiers, marched down on Greeideaf's point to destroy the 
powder magazine. On reaching tbc spot the\' Ibund the 
magazine empty, the powder the day before having been 
taken out and tlirown into a dry well. The British, being- 
strangers to this fact, threw a lighted match into the well. 
A most tremendous explosion ensued, whereby the oiticers 
and about thirty of the men were killed and the rest most 
shockingl}' mangled. Some of these unfortunate victims of 
gunpowder were seen flying in the air to great distances, 
and others were totally buried alive umler tons of earth 
thrown upon them. The survivors were carefully brought 
up on the Capitol hill, and tho.se in the most distressed 
situation were lodgod in Carroll's buildings, adjoining my 
hou.se. 

I never saw moi-e eiulearing marks of sym[>athy than were 

77 



24 RecortU of thr ('uhunhiit lllsloriad Society 

liere exhibited on the countonance of General Ross. Ho 
observed, lookin«r at me with an eye of searching anxiety, 
'• I am mucli distresseil at leavini; these i)Oor fellows behind 
me. I do not knijw who is to mitigate their snfferings." 

I understood his UK-aning.and instantly assured him that 
\u' need not make himself uneasy on account of his wounded 
soldiers. " The Americans, (leneral Ross," said I, "are of 
the same origin as yourself. We have, I trust, given you 
many splendid instances of our humanity in the course of 
this unfortunate war; and you may rely on it, sir, no atten- 
tions in my power shall be withheld from them." He gave 
me a look of gratitude which I shall never forget, and then 
turnincj towards his nuMi wIumv thev lav, burnt, bruised, and 
mangled, on the lioor, he silently gazed at their deplorable 
state with that Ooddike sensibility, near melting into tears, 
which strongly brought to my recollection these beautiful 
lines of Darwin : 

No lailiant pearl wliicli cre.sted Fortune wears. 
No gem that twiiikliiiur hangs from Beauty's eyes, 
Not tlie briglit stars wliich night's hUie arch adorn, 
Nor rising sun that gilds the vernal morn. 
Shine with such luster as the tear that hreaks 
Fur ntlirr's woe ilowii Virtue's manly t-lieeks. 

Altt'r a few moments spent in sik'iit symi»athy Ik- ob- 
served. " I pri'sumc mattrcses and suitable refreshments can 
be obtained for them in Georgetown." From this I was in- 
duced to believe h<' intended to mai'eh in ih;it direction for 
the purpos(> of destroying Mr l-'oxalTs foundry: but in 
this 1 was agreeably mistaken, for as soon as night a[)- 
j)rc»ached and large lires were kindled along their lines the 
enemy deeamped and returned to their <liipping by tiie sanu' 
route ill which they came. 

As General iioss was about to mount his horse he took 
leave of me in a respectful manner; repeated his regret lor 
the robbery committed on my property l>y his men, and as- 
sured me tliat for those injuries, as also for the services I 

78 



Unwelcome Vlaiior^i to I-jirli/ Waxlihifjton 25 

had [iroiiiisod liis sick and wounded men he left licliind liim, 
I should he rewarded. 

Wmv eai'Iy the next luornini;- I set rnyself to th(> |)errorni- 
ance of wha( I owed to tlic siek. All the refreshments that 
the utmost cleanliness of both bed and board could yield, 
all the vigor and spirits that nourishing diet couM imi)art, 
and all the ndief that suitable medicines could allord, were 
[dentifully supplied to those unfortunate sufferers, and with 
the assistance of Dr William Baker, of Georgetown, who 
generously volunteered his services, the fractured limbs and 
wounds were set and dressed, to their exceeding comfort, by 
the evening. 

After a few days l)r liaker and myself were notified by 
Dr Worthington that he was appointed by the Government 
to take charge of the British prisoners. I expres.sed much 
surprise that an arrangement of this sort had been made 
with so little regard for my feelings, since I had been all 
along attending those unfortunate sufferers, and had, through 
a kind Providence, rendered them those services without 
which, it is well known, many of them must have inevita- 
bly perished. I also observed that after my .solemn {)romi.sG 
made to General Uo.ss I should never foi'give my.self if T 
abandoned his men. 

Dr Worthington replied tiiat the alfair might be easily 
accommodated, for, as he was uppointed to su[)erintend the 
hosj)ital at Bladensburg as well as this in Washington, 
making together a sum of duties more than he could dis- 
charge, he would be glad of my a.ssistance. 

In this way the British sick still continued the objects of 
my medical attention, and, I am most hai)])y to add, .so 
signal were the smiles of Providence on my exertions in 
their behalf that, although the bilious fever and dy.sentery 
raged in the hospital and encampments with a violence that 
swept olf numbers of my own counti-ymen, yet not one of 
the British sank under their allliction except Dr >h)nteith. 

This extraordinary success is to be ascribed, I shall ever 
think, as much to moral as io medical cause. Cleanliness, 

II -Ui.r. Col.. Hi.-;t. So.;. 79 



•2'') Records of the Culniahiii llidorical Societi/ 

IVesli air. and pleasant restorative diet contributed inneli. no 
doubt, to that desirable event, but not more. I firnily be- 
lieve, than did the continued efforts that were made to keep 
up the spiiit.< of my [latients and to render their minds 
habitually cheerful. Api)rehensive that the recollection of 
IjeiiiLi: our prisoners migiit give that morbid irrital)ility to 
thrir minds which by destroying the s()irits would retard 
the cure, I studiously avoided evervthing of that malignant 
tendency, and as diligently redoubled my efforts to gratify 
as far as I was able their wishes and to anticipate their 
wants. 

Had General Ro.ss but lived 1 am conlidcnt I .-hould have 
been liberally remunerated for the articles which were taken 
from my house, as well as for my medical attentions to his 
men and for the supplies over and above the allowance 
made by my own Government ; but should 1 never receive 
a cent from the IJi'itisli government, 1 am not left without 
reward. The recollection of having done unto these af- 
flicted foreigners as I would they had done unto me is a 
source of the liveliest .satisfaction to me as a man, besides 
what I enjoy as an American, on com{)aring my conduct 
with that of Captain 8hortland,of Dartmoor prison ; General 
Procter, of the army in Tpper Canada, as also Colonel 
Elliot, who, after having pledged himself to protect his 
woun<led prisoner, Captain Hart, an old and intimate ac- 
(luainLance of his, and brother-in-law of those distinguished 
characters the Honorable 11. Clay and .lames Brown, suf- 
fered him to be inhumanly butchered by the Indian toi^aa- 
hawk. 

lint sorry am I to add ihat for my kindness to the British 
prisoners 1 got no thanks from .some of my neighltors. On 
the contrary, a few of ihem, at least, were so enragdl against 
me that they brantled me as a tk.vitok .vm« .\ fuiknt to 
TIIK Bkitisii I And, indeed, 1 have no doubt had these un- 
thinking people but possessed a jiower e(pial to their pas- 
.sii)n> they would have acted in this lair city of Washington 
the same horrid tragedies as did the bhnd mob in Paris 

so 



Univclcoinc ]'isil()rs I't Enrhj \\'iisltiii;/l<ni 



07 



uikIit K(il)rs|)irnv ami Marat, and luive made uie the bloody 
victim of their diabolical rage and fury. lUit 1 am truly 
happy to state that tliese men were not Americans. Xo, 
thev were emiL;rants, an<l, which is astonishing, thi-y were 
the very countrymen of those wounded prisoners to whom I 
atlbrded that aid which man owes to the unfortunate. 

The truth is, these men finding, on their return from 
Hight before the British army, their houses had been plun- 
dered of a few articles, fell into such a rage that tlu^y were 
in.stantly for blowing up the British prisoners and hanging 
me for having treated them with the tenderness which their 
condition as sick and wounded prisoners required. 

Thaidc God, these inconsiderate men were among a people 
who would give thmn no countenance in such diabolical 
acts They were surrounded by charitable Americans, who, 
with the most tenacious regard to their own rights, cherished 
an equal regard tt) the rights of others, and therefore ludd 
in proper detestation those infernal mobs that would swallow 
up the rights of all and convert society into the greatest of 
curses. 

I have much pleasure in contemplating the contrast ex. 
hibited in the spirit and conduct of that estimable and faith- 
ful disciple of Christ, the Reverend Mr Brackenridgc. who, 
although a great sufferer by the British in Washington, was 
among the first to alford comforts and consolations to the 
wounded and otherwise alllicted prisoners. He prayed 
among enemies I 

Yes, I rejoice to state that my virtuous countrymen were 
not implicated with those unthinking men. So far from 
menacing me for an act of mercy, which man eternally owes 
to man, they most heartily applauded me for it, and if I 
could possibly require any greater pleasure than that which 
I feel when I think of what I did for those poor sick 
strangers I should find it in the commendations bestowed 
on me not only by my worthy countrymen who are denomi- 
nated Federalists, Init also by the Republicans, and. those 
especially whose esteem I most highly prized, as <.'liarles 

81 



28 Itrconh of tin Cohnnhui JliKtnricdl Socidij 

Carroll, Esq, of Bellvue; John CJraliaiii, Es»| ; General 
\'au Ness, Colonel Brent, Dr Thornton, the Rev Mr Chal- 
mers, Mr McKenny, the Honorable G. W. Campbell, Gail- 
lard, Cheves, Lowndes, Troup, Cuthbcrt, E[)pes, Jackson, 
Gholson, Ilawes, Condict, Mclvim, Ringgold, Desha, Chap- 
pel, etc., etc. 

When these worthy patriots understood that I had visited 
those afliicted captives and rendered them aid before the 
hand of government had been extended to their relief, they 
ex})iessed their high approbation of my conduct, and several 
of them came to my house and thanked me for an act so 
honorable to the character of the American people, and, 
above all, so pleasing to God, and therefore so sure to draw 
after it his blessing; and I am happy to add that liis bless- 
ing in one goodly shape at least was soon visited upon us 
for this kindness to the British prisoners and through the 
medium of their gratitude. 

Finding that instead of having been treated, as they ex- 
pected, with great harshness for burning our Capitol, they 
had been treated with the utmost tenderness and hospitality, 
they were struck with admiration of our goodness to them. 
Not only their language but their looks afforded us daily 
the most pleasing assurances of their gratitude, and as soon 
as their health would allow they a[)peared as never so happy 
as when they were doing .something to requite us as far as 
they were able. 

To their great credit, I can .say with truth that in some 
laudable degree this amiable spirit a|)peared to belong to 
most of them ; but in some it was more especially and glo- 
riously predominant. There were, for example, .Sergeant 
Hutchinson, of the royal sap[)ers and miners, and Alexander 
( lunn.of the Scotch fusiliers. Those two young men, though 
low in rank, should stand forever on the list of that virtuous 
fame which belongs to sensible and giatcful dispositions. 
They acte<l as though they could m-vrr give proof enough 
of their lovi' for the Americans, and it is a .sacred trutii that 
when tlie American soldiers shrunk, as was sometimes the 

82 



Unwelcome I'lsilors lo l-jirhj Wn^liiiKjInn '20 

case, from tlicir sick and dying eomradcs tlirouL,^h fear of 
the infection, these English soldiers volunteered their serv- 
ices, sat up with the sick, washed the bodies of the dead, 
and performed all of the last sad offices of humanity with 
as much tenderness as though the deceased had been their 
own relatives and friends; and it is but justice to these 
Englishmen to declare that to their favorable reports of 
our kindness to them on this occasion were to be ascribed 
many noble instances of British politeness to our worthy 
citizens who fell into their hands. 

That very amiable gentleman and distinguished i)hysi- 
cian, Dr Beans, of Marlborough, was made prisoner by the 
British as they were retreating to their vessels. The benev- 
olent Francis Scotx Key, Esq, of Georgetown, learning this, 
immediately obtained letters from Sergeant Hutchinson and 
others of the prisoners, and went with a flag on board the 
Britisli squadron for his release. Soon as General Ross had 
perused the letter of Sergeant Hutchinson, detailing the 
generous treatment which he and his comrades had received, 
he issued orders for the immediate liberation of Dr Beans, 
although it had been previously determined that he should 
be sent to Bermuda. Thus by common acts of Christian 
charity to these poor captives a most valuable life was saved 
to his family and country. 

Who does not in this behold another additional j)roof that 
the maddest i)olicy on earth is hkvkxgi:, and that the wisest 
philosophy under iii:.\vi;n is that uliicli teaches us " to love 
our enemies and do good for evil!" And besides its ex- 
ceeding pleasure and advantage, where is the charm out of 
HKAVKN that so fascinates all hearts as that of God like 
generosity to an enemy that is in our [>ower? Take the 
following, which was communicated to me by Commodore 
Barney himself: 

As this gallant officer lay on the battle ground, badly 
wounded and hel[)less, and his men by his own order all re- 
treated from him, he beckoned to an English soldier to 
come to his assistance. The soldi.'r instantly step[)etl up 

83 



30 l'i(fords of the Culaiuhia llidorical ^'Soculi/ 

and reixlerefl the required service with as amiable an ahic- 
rity as to his own general. " Yon are a nt)ble fellow ! " .said 
the coniinodore, ''and I am sorry I have not a purse for 
you. But here's my gold watch; you are welcome to it.'' 

" No, sir," replied the Englishman; " I can assist a brave 
man without being paid for it." 

As I have someiiow or other got into a string of anec- 
dotes about the British exploits in Washington, I beg leave 
to mention one or two more. As Admiral Cockburn was 
looking at his men while they were throwing into the streets 
the types of the National latelUrjcacei', an American gentle- 
man observed to him, " If General Washington had been 
alive, you would not have gotten into this city so easily.'' 
" No, sir," replied the admiral, " if General Washington had 
been President, we should never have thought of coming 
here." 

When this was told me, I added : " No, sir; nor if even the 
chairman of the military committee had been Secretary of 
War would they have dared it." The chairman I allude to 
was the patriotic G. M. Troup, of Georgia, who was always 
for carrying on the war with the greatest energy, and who 
would at least have had a sullieient force, with an expe- 
rienced commander, to defend the metropolis of the United 
states against an invading army of four thousand men. 

As I have mentioned the name of Troup, I cannot forbear 
relating the following anecdote of thi- virtuous j)atri(jt. 
Besides the honor it does him, it is calculated to exalt the 
charm of that stern Spartan virtue which alone can give 
immortality to our lie[)ublic. 

The colonel's younger brother. I )r James Troui>, studied 
physic with me in Savannah, and while his uncommon 
talents excited my admiration, his gentle and ad'ectionate 
spirit eoneiliated my esteem in the highest degree. At my 
request the lion Taul Hamilton, formerly Secretary of the 
Navy, appointed him hospital surgeon for the State of 
Georgia dui'iug the war. 

Colonel Troup, on learning from me that I had obiaiued 

M 



Unwelcome llsifovs fn /•jirh/ ]\'n.^Ji!)if/lnn ol 

this commission lor his l)rother. ivplicil. with a hiok of stron^^ 
disapprobation: " No, Doctor, it will not do. I thank yon 
for your good wishes to my brother, but, sir, lie must not 
accept the commission you have been so good as to i)ro(;ure 
for him. I know,'' continued he, " it is an ai)poiutmcnt 
both of honor and proHt, but still I can never consent to 
his taking it. ll may bo thought that I procured it for 
him, and I cannot bear the idea of using any influence that 
I mav ever gain under (lovernment to raise my relations 
into ofiice." 

After this long, though I hope not uninteresting digres- 
sion, we will return to the bilious fever. 

I have stated that Dr Montcith was the only victim of 
this disease among the British prisoners in the hosj.ital 
here. Would to God there had perished but one in the 
xVmerican hospitals and encampments. 

But, alas! my heart bleeds when [ think how many thou. 
sauds perished during this war. I do not mean the common 
hireling soldiery, who, destitute of all virtuous habits, are 
perhaps the fit victims of war. No : but I speak of the thou- 
sands of our virtuous yeomanry who, diseased or wounded 
in their country's service, iiave been cruelly sacrificed at the 
shrine of public neglect. 

Think now of the following, which is but a common case; 
X regiment of brave patriots, notwithstanding the tears of 
wives, mothers, and sisters, set out full of spirits and eager 
to meet the enemy of their country. 

Many of them iiad never, perhaps, walked ten miles in a 
day; are hurried on by an imprudent officer twenty or 
thirty n:siles, possibly, on the first day, with a heavy musket 
and knapsack on their shoulders. In the evening, broke 
down with unusual fatigue and their linen stiff with acrid 
perspiration, they halt for the night. Both in mind and 
body they rerjuire something to exhilarate and to strengthen, 
but, behold! in lieu of those refreshments which they had 
been accustomed to at home, only a little raw meat is ofiered 
for their bill of fare, and the coM t'arth, fre.iueutly without 
a tent, for their bed. What wonder that one fourth or fifth 

85 



32 Rrrorils iif fhe Cohunhia Historical Society 

ottliis regiment shoiilil the \'ory next niDrning be laid uy> 
merely for lack of those provisions which certainly it was 
the (Inty of sonie officer or other nnder the Government to 
have sn[)i)lie(l ! 

I have it from a gentleman who was on the spot that of a 
fine regiment of Virginia volunteers encamping precisely 
under these circumstances, near Snowden's iron works, u])- 
wards of two hun<lred were the next day on the sick list, 
several of whom died. 

And there, for another example, were tlie five thousand 
who, according to the proverb of " locking the stable-door 
after the steed is stolen," were rapidly marched to Washing- 
ton after the city was taken; after the Capitol, the President's 
house, War and Treasury offices were all burnt; after the 
navy yard and frigates were all demolisiied, and after the 
bridges were all burnt uj) — I say of those five thousand men> 
what awful numbers perished miserably, merely for lack of 
proper nourisiiment, medical attention, and suitable accom- 
modation. 

True it is, \)y order of the then acting Secretary of War a 
hospital was establishe I here for the accommodation of tlie 
sick militia, but let not the reader lie under a mistake about 
this hospital. The woi-d hos[)ital signifies not only a re- 
ceptacle for the sick, but a place for everything clean and 
sweet, and everything nourishing and healing, with skillful 
phvsicians and attentive nurses; but! alas, this hos[»ital had 
no such meaning, the truth of which many members of 
Congress and citizens can attest. 

The hos|)ital was contiguous to the apartments occupied 
by the British sick whom 1 attended, ;ind being freciuciitly 
entreated by my countrynK'U who were not under my care 
to prescribe for them. I had a fair opportunity to witness 
their wretched situation, and f will declare before my God 
I have seen twenty or thirty sick militiamen brought in of 
a day to this hos[)ital, where instead of the i)leasant ami 
cordial refreshments which their languid situation reipiired, 
their ration^ n[' raw beef were thrown on a table, there lying 
for hours togfther lor the i)oor sick soldiers to divide and 

S(i 



Unwelcome llsiton^ to Kurhj ]V((sJiiii(/lou 33 

dress for lluinsc'lvcs as tliev could: and, wlial was still more 
do|)loral)lo in tlii?, inilitia-niiirderin_L;- Iios[)ilal, a young man 
of oi,u-litoon yoai-s of au(\ who hail hocn sludyinLi; mctlicinc 
onlv a t'c'W months and hardly knew how to [nit u\> the 
siini)lcst prescription, much loss to j)rescribe in the absence 
of the surgeon, was appointed surgeon's mate. 

With such misinanageinent, what wdikUt that so many of 
our valuable citizcms sunk under their complaints, and 
where is the wonder that they should have exclaimed, with 
tears iu their eyes, " Had we Init died on the field of battle, 
fighting for liberty and our country, we should iiave gloried 
in such a death ; but to be l)rought here to die like sheep, it 
is insupportable ! " 

Dr James Ewell was born on the family estate at Belle 
Air, Prince William county, Va., February lb, 1773. His 
father, Col Jesse Ewell, was a classmate of Thomas Jeffer- 
sou at William and Mary college, and colonel of a Virginia 
regiment of militia in the Revolutionary war. He had 
nineteen children, of whom eleven reached maturity. James 
being his third son. 

Dr Ewell studied medicine with his uncle, Dr James 
Craik. in Alexandria, Va. (the family physician of George 
Washington), and subsequently with Dr Stevenson in IJalti- 
raore. He tlien concluded his medical studies by attending 
the lectures at the LTniversity of Pennsylvania (Phihidel- 
pliia), umler Dr Rush and Dr Penjamin S. Parton. He 
married, December 2, 17'.) I, Margaret Mcintosh Robertson, 
daughter of Dr Andrew Robertson, of Lancaster county, 
Va. He afterwards bought a farm near i)y, i)racticing his 
profession in the surrounding country. Subseciuently he 
removed to Dumfries, and in 1801 he visited Washington, 
residing at the White House as a guest of President Jeffer- 
son, who advised him to settle at Savainiah. giving him 
letters of introduction to his friends in that city. He re- 
mained at Savannah until ISOI), when he S(,'ttled in Wash- 
ington, opening his otlice at the northeast corner of Eirst 
and A streets southeast. 

iL'-IUx. Co(.. Hist. Soc. 87 



34 llccords of the CoUiiiibin Historical >'^ocicti/ 

III 1807 he compiled the IMantcrs' ami Mariners' Medical 
Companion, dedicated to Thomas Juirerson, President of the 
United Statc;s, which was puhli-hed at i'hiladelphia. Of 
this work ten editions were issued. Tlie teutii edition, printed 
in i84>), contained his portrait. The seventh edition was 
published at Washington, copyrighted by liis daughters, 
Cordelia B. Ewell and Olivia F. Kwell, as proprietors. In 
the third edition (Philadelphia, 1817) he inserted, under the 
heading of " Bilious Fevers," his celebrated article on the 
" CajHure of Washington." 

This work, entitled " The Medical Companion," after the 
first edition, received the highest commendations from the 
most distinguished medical authorities in the United States, 
such as Drs W. Shii.i)en, B. S. Barton, J. Woodhouse, J. B. 
Davidge, J. .Shaw, David Ram.say, C. Mackenzie, A. l^arron, 
N. Chapman, C. Caldwell, etc. It was also warmly imU.rsed 
by the New York Medical Repository. 

Thomas Jefferson, in accepting the dedication of the book, 
si)eaks of Dr Ewell's father as his bosom friend. 

The biogiapher. Rev Mason L Weems, married his sister 
Caroline. Meeting with some financial reverses, Dr Ewell 
left Washington in Ls30 and removed to New Orleans, where 
he })ractice<l until liis death, of cholera. He died in his 
sixtieth year, November 2, l.s;;-J, at Covington, Pake Pont- 
chartrain. 

\)v I^well lia<l four c-hildren. The two sons died in 
infancy, while one daughter became Mrs Olivia F. Martin- 
dale, of Sandy Hill, N. Y., and the other Mrs Cordelia B. 
Kingman, of Washington, 1). C His widow died August 
20, 1842, at her d;iughter's (Mrs Marti ndale's) home. 

According to Col James A. Tait. of this citv. who was 
born here on the day the British entered the city, Dr Fwell 
was of mediuiu liiight,somewliatcor[>ulent. of distinguished 
ai)pearance, had a llorid complexion, with large, expressive 
blue eyes, walked very erect, ami had a giMiial smile for 
everv one. lie was universally beloved, and his medical 
practice extended all oxw this District. 

.M. 1. Wkllkk. 
88 



Tin: Mii.riAiiv and ruiVATii Skcrktaiuks <>\- (Ikokgio 
Washington 

r.Y Makv s. 

TluTfiipiiii ans\V(M-('il .Iiilni AMcii. l)ut looked not iq) from liis writing; : 
''Truly till- lircalli <>( tlic l.iml liatli slackened the si)eed (if tlic huUet; 
He in liis ineiry pii'served you to be our sliicld and our weapon I" 

Lii.NCiFKLI.OW. 

That W'asliington ever rehearsed his deeds of daring and 
hairbreadth escapes to liis secretaries after the manner of 
the doughty Puritan captain would not find credence for a 
moment, but that his secretaries ma}' often have echoed in 
thought the sentiments expressed by John Alden is pleas- 
antly shown by scores of letters preserved in the " W'asli- 
ington Correspondence" at the Department of State. 

Reared in habits of industry and accustomed to so sys- 
tematize his W(jrk that every detail received its just share of 
consideration, and believing, to use his own words, that 
" i<lleness is disreputable under any circumstances, pro- 
ductive of no good, even when unaccomi)anicd by vicious 
habits," a large propoi"tion of Washington's military, ofticiab 
and private correspondence is in his own careful penman- 
ship. Throughout the bu.sy and harassing period of the 
French and Indian war we find month after month and 
year after year size-rolls, necessary returns, plans and speci- 
fications of forts, arrangement of trooi)s during certain long 
mai'ches, and other military data all wi'itten out by himself, 
with never a blot and seldom an erasure and in a hand as 
easy to read as ])rint. 

In IT")-", however, while for a time he commamled the 
colonial forces that were building forts, opening roads, and 
holding in check the French and Indians ii|)on the western 
frontier of X'irgiiiia. lie wrote to Governor I)inwiddie from 
Winchester. October lo: 

89 



30 Rcxoi'ih of fitr Cnhualiia Jlisforical Sucicty 

" I have appointed Captain George Mercer (whose Senior- 
ity entitled him to it) my aitl-de-camp ; and Mr. Ivirkpatrick, 
of Alexandria, my Secretar\^; a young man bred to Busi- 
ness, of good Character, well-recommended, and a i)ersou 
whose Abilities I luul not the least doubt of." 

Mr Kirkpatrick's api)ointment. however, may have been 
several months earlier, for on the 10th of August, IToo, he 
writes to Washington from WilliamsVturg, acknowledging 
the receipt of a letter by express and adding: 

" By this Muddy Mortall I thought it incumbent to advise 
you, that I shall be detain'd a Couple of days longer in 
town, being obliged to leave a Copy of all Accounts as they 
now have been examined, ct Staml stated in Your Book, so 
that the next Committee will have easy work with you." 

A year later we find him writing to his chief from — 

" FAL^[o^TII, '2.") Ant/nsl. IToi). 

* * * " On I'^riday evening had the ideasure of receiv- 
ing 3''ours, and agreeable to your desire coi)ied the (tov- 
crnour's, Dcliver'd it and wou<l have Shown it to the 
Speaker, liad he not left Town that forenoon. * * * 
You woud learn by Capt. Cox that All your Accts. were 
pass'd it approved, & that transcribing the whole ti-ansac- 
tions woufl detain me 2 or .'J days after him." 

ill 17o7 he had left tbeai'iiiy ami resumed hi- iaisiness 
of ship|iing mei'ciiant in .\le.\aiidi-ia, and on the I'.'th of 
June writes : 

• Alkx.xnkki.v WUIi Jinic IT'T. 

" l)i.Ai; Sii;, I >liare in tln^ anxiety and concern that you 
must undoubtt^dly undergo in thi^ pre'ent nvdancholy |ii-os- 
l)cct and very warmly wi<li a happy issue. Should my 
service be i-ecpiisite in any shape at this juncture, I sliall be 
glad to know it aii'l will immediately objv with the greatest 
clu'ai'lnlness in whatever you ai'c pleased to command." 



Sccretaricfi of Gcnrr/r WasJiinr/lDii 



37 



\V;isluii,ot,)ii onloivd many of (1h^ ai-iiiy supplies througli 
hill), :ui<l in a ci.mniunicat ion dftlu! 2l.st of July Ibllowiiif^, 
conrrrnini;- ammunition and artillery stores, after wisiiin*,^ 
\\'asliin,o;toii " Every Happiness this Life ean all'ord, or the 
next can ik'stow," he adds: 

" P. S. 1 shall he i^lad allways to be employed in any thin.<; 
You have oeeasion for, this way." 

Ill Oetoher, 17'>7, he writes: " If at any time you desire 
my assistance, here or elsewhere, before you go down to 
Williamsho-. I am obedient to your command — and beg you 

woud use mc, without ceremony, in any thing- I can serve 

you." 

The next year he determines to visit his native country, 
and writes to ac(iuaint Wasliingtt)n with his contemi)lated 
tri[) and tell where to direct future letters: 

"Alexandki.v 3cZ September 1758. 
■■= * * "A letter will find its way to me — at Kirkcud- 
hrioht — the County Town of Galloway in the South of Scot- 
land — from whence Doctr. Craik and 1 derive the liononroi 
our IJirtli^. — May Providence in a Peculiar manner protect 
Yon in every point of Your life and Crown Your Troubles 
with Content & Honour." 

Washington replied promptly, for cm the 1 Ith of the same 
month .lolm l\ irkpatrick '' snatches u moment before start- 
ing " to acknowledge a letter, say good-bye, and beg for a 
continuance of the correspondence: 

"Ar.EX.VNnKr.\. 14tJi, September, 17."S. 
* * * "I am touch'd with sincere grief to leave You 
and a few Friends, whose Intimacy & Friendship have at- 
tacird me with tics of the warmest Affection— and nothing 
woud make it tolerable without the hopes of Returning, and 
the pleasure of hearing of my Friends' hai)piness when Ab- 
seut — persist then Dear Sir, in kind ( Ml'u-es of Communica- 

91 



38 licrorda of the CoUunbia Jlidurical Soddij 

tion, by all opportuuitys— for nothing will afford nie more 
real Delight — or confer greater Honour." 

No matter what the main object of his letters, he always 
found space to give all the news and often much of the gos- 
si[> of the neighborhood. During the Revolution he was a 
patriot and always strongly attached to Washington. 

After Washington's marriage, when the Custis children 
began to need the services of a tutor, we find the name of 
Walter Magowan, of Maryland occurring in his Ledfjcr and 
Diary, and there is reason to believe that Magowan acted 
also in the capacity of secretary, but documentary evidence 
is not at hand to prove this surmise. However, it is matter 
of record that he did copying and was paid extra therefor. 
In Ledger A his account runs from October 9, ITO'i, to 
March, 17<;s, the date of its settlement. In Ledger C he ap- 
pears as — 

"The Rev'd Mr. Magowan, Dr. 

" 1773, Jan'y G. To 12 Tickets in the Delaware Lot- 
tery, belonging to Lord Sterl'g 
Xumb'd from 52G4 to 5275 In- 
clus'e, 0' 10 doU'rs ea. & dis- 
pos'd of by you \n\ Letter. . . . £3G 

" Or. 
" 1775, -hiu'v. 1)V vour order on Mi', lleetr. lloss 

"fJr 120 Dollars f3() 0" 

Th.' KcvM Mr Magowan apologizes in this letter for his 
delay in .settling this account and signs himself '"^Sir, your 
obliged h'ble serv't." • 

Though Washington's aids-de-cami) in the discharge of 
their office attended to many clerical duties, this pai>er will 
treat onlv of those wh«i appear .>^quarely on the reconls 
under the title of m-retarij, and Josejih Ivced has the honor 
of being the first " military secretary to the commander-in- 
chief," the following item being inelu<led in Washington's 
<^eneral orders for the current date: 



Secretaries of Ci'eort/r ]V<i.>^hiii(jt()ii 39 

*' I Ii;ai) iiWKTKiis, CA\ri;i;ii)i:i:. .////// 1///. 177">. 

:(: * ;»: ^ * :): * 

"Josc])li Rood ICsijr. is ;ii)[)oiiitcd Socretary to the (fcn- 
ei'al and ho is in futarc to bo considor'd and regarded a.s 
such." 

Joseph Ile^'d, the son of Andrew Uecd and 'Theodosia 
Bowes, was born at Trenton, New Jorso}', on the l!7tii of 
August, 1741. His ethication, begun at the Phihidelphia 
academy, was continued at Princeton coUege, where, in 
1757, he took his bachelor's degree at the early age of IG, 
delivering an original Lntin oration at the commence- 
ment exercises. After studying law and being admitted to 
practice, he went to England to complete his legal studies in 
the Middle Temple, London. Ilis marri;ige with Esther 
De Berdt, only daugliter of Dennis De Berdt, colonial agent 
for Massachusetts, allied him with some inlluential I"]nglish 
families. Returning to this country in 1770, he settled in 
Philadelphia and began the practice of the law. 

Alrea«^ly the colonies were beginning to chafe under the 
injustice and short-sighted policy of the mother country. 
Reed, taking an active part in politics, began, through his 
English connections, an earnest, fearless correspondence 
with Lord Dartmouth, the ct)lonial secretar}', giving the 
British ministry timely warning of what the end must be 
should the growing; <lissatisfaction in llie American colonies 
lead to open revolt ami an armed resistance. In 177 1 he 
was elected member of the committee of correspondence, 
and president of the first Pennsylvania convention in 
January iif 177"). In the following May, while a delegate to 
the First Continental Congress, began })robably that ac(iuaint- 
ance with Washington, then a delegate from \'irginia, which 
led to Reed's being selected for secretary by the latter when 
he was made commander-in-chief. When a friend remon- 
strated with Reed on the step he had taken in acce[)ting 
this ])osition, he replied : " I have no inclination to be 
hanged for half treason. When a subject draws his sword 

93 



40 Records of the Coluiulna Historical Society 

against his prince he must cut his way through if he means 
nfterwanls to sit down in safety. I have taken too active a 
j.art in what may l.c calle'l the civil |>art of opposition to 
renounce without disgrace the public cause when it seems 
to lead to danger, and have a m<;st sovereign contempt for 
the man who can plan measures he has not tin- s^iirit to 
execute." 

The books and accounts opened by him in his capacity of 
secretary bear witness to his neatness and trained ability, 
wliile Wasliington's letters to liiiii during his frequent en- 
forced absence from camp show how great was the com- 
mander's reliance on the good judgment and scholarly 
acquirements of his chosen secretary. The Hrst letter in 
point is writteu from the camp at Cambridge, under date of 
November 20, 1775, and is as follows : 

"■ Dear Sir: The hint contained in the last of your letters 
respecting your continuance in my family, in other words, 
your wish that I could dispense witli it, gives me [.ain. Y(»u 
alreatly, my dear Sir, knew my sentiments on this matter; 
you cannot but be sensible of your importance to me : at 
the same time 1 sliall again repeat, what I liave observed to 
you before, that 1 can never think of promoting my con- 
venience at the <'Xpense of your interest and inclination. 
* * * Mv mind is now fully disclosed to you. with this 
a.ssurance sincerely and allectionatidy accompanying it, that 
whilst you are disjjosed to continue with me, I shall think 
my.self too fortunate and happy to wish for a change.'' 

Again, on the •JSih of the same month, he writes: 

" Dkai; Sii;: I can truly assure you tliat I mi.-s you ex- 
ceedinglv, and if an express declaration be wanting to 
hasten your return, 1 make it most heartily and with .some 
pleasure. * * What can your brethren of the law 

mean, bv .saying your perquisites, as Secretary, must be 
t'.onsiderable".^ 1 am sure they have not amounted to one 
farthing." 

94 



Secretaries of George WasJdnrjton II 

Tliu last ("xtrart on tlii.s sul)jcct is wi'iKcii uiidii' <latc of 
December J ') : 

"With respect to what you have said of yourself and 
situation, to what I have before said on this subject, 1 can 
only adtl, that whilst you leave the door o[)en to my ex- 
])eetation of your return, 1 shall not think of supplyin^^ 
your place — if ultimately, you resolve against coming, 1 
should be glad to know it, as soon as you have determined 
u[)on it." 

The earliest letter that has been preserved of Reed to 
Washington is written from Philadelphia, whither he had 
been sent on business eonneclcil with the army. Washing- 
ton already had recommended him for adjutant genei-al in 
the Continental service, and this is the pro[)Osition to which 
lie refers : 

" riiiLADKLi'iiiA March. .'} 1776. 

"Mv Dear Gexeral, I have not been favoured with 
any Thing from you since my two last but that never makes 
any Ditlerence in my Writing as your Claims of Friendship 
& Gratitude ui)on me arc su[>crior to all other. * * * 
The Congress have acceded to the Proposition resj)ecting 
myself so that unless some new Event unforeseen & very 
imi)ortant should happen I shall be with you this Summer. 
I must beg your Indulgence till [ can get my- Family into 
some convenient Situation &, settle my Adairs — In the mean 
Time I am forwarding your Camp Equi[)age which I have 
extended in many s:nall [)articulars beyond your Order." 

[•'our days later he writes : 

" Phi LAI), ^f'l,rh 7, 177<*'. 
"Mv Di;ai: Gkneual, 

" I have taken a House in the Country to which I pro[)Ose 
soon to remove my Family & iim preparing what is neces- 
sary for the Summer. * * * I expect your Tents to be 

finished this Week. * * * 
i:j-Kki . Coi,. Ih<T. .Soc. 95 



42 Records of the Uoluiahia JItdorical Socidij 

"Adieu my dciir General, should there be any Action or 
lCnter|)rize God grant it may be a glorious (jnu to you t't a 
hapi)y one ior our Country."' 

Oil the l")th lie writes to congratulate his '" dear (riMieral "' 
on a prosperous turn iu events: 

" Till I. AD. Mirrh I.',. 1770. 
" Mv De.vr Gi-:xI':k.\l, This Morning your E.Kpre.ss arrived 
with an Account of the interesting Events which have taken 
Place since this Month began. I beg Leave to congratulate 
vou on Appearances so favourable to the Interests of our 
Country & your own Character. Not that in my Opinion 
it was the least clouded by your Inactivity as the Causes 
were woll known, but it is certain tliat Enterprize & Success 
nive a Ih'illianco «.\: Lustre which cannot bo unacceptable to 
a good Mind.'' 

An interesting letter to .John Hancock, President of Con- 
gress, marks the end of his secretaryship and bears witness 
to his strict sense of justice: 

" The Ilon'ble Congress having been [)leased some Time 
afro to make an Addition to the Pay of the General'.s Secre- 
tary, upon an Expectation that I should continue in that 
.Vpi'oiiitniont, 1 thir.k it my l>uty to accjuaint you, that 
agreeable tliereto, 1 rfi)aired to New York, where I found a 
Gontleman of Character & Al)ilities performing the Services 
of that OlUce with Satisfaction to the General. 

■'.\s my lirst acceptance of the OtHce was purely acci- 
dental, iV: occasioned by publick Motives, the Necessity of 
mv Continuance suiMned now to cease ct induced me to re- 
<|Uest the General to excuse my farther Attendance, which 
he was so obliging as to comply with. This ct Engagements 
both of a publick ct Private Nature in this Province, c^' these 
onlv, were my Reasons for declining tiie Service, at the same 
Tiin(; I assured the CToneral that if in the Course of liusiness 
mv small .\.l)ilities could be of any Use, I would on the 
shortest Notice most chearlully d-vote myself to it again. 



Secirfiirics of (reor</c Wd^hiiiyhin 43 

" Having- bucn absent frojn tlio General for some Time I 
considered tlu> Pay of tli(> Office most properly due to those 
CJcntlemiMi who did \\\v Duty durinn; tliat Absence. T ac- 
cordinu'lv with the (ieneral's Aiti)roljation divided it be- 
tween them." 

As adjnhmt general he met the messenger of Lord Howe 
when the latter sent a letter to George Wa-^ihinr/ton, I'J)<(jr., 
and refused to transmit it to the commander-in-chief, be- 
cause it was not properly addressed. 

Reed's active military career began with the scries of en- 
gagements on Long Island, in August, 177(5, while by his 
knowledge of the country around Trenton and Princeton, 
gained as a boy and during his college days, he aided ma- 
terially in the success of the enterpri.se of that memorable 
Christmas night and the following January. As an ac- 
knowledgment of his services during this campaign, Con- 
gress raised him to the rank of brigadier general May 12, 
1777. About the same time the executive council of Penn- 
sylvania appointed liim to (ill the office of chief justice of 
that Sl;ite. He declined botii appointments, however, pre- 
ferring to keep himself free to act as a volunteer whenever 
his .services should l)e needed, and it was in this capacity he 
took part in the battles of Ih-andy win'. Whitemarsh, (ler- 
mantown, and Monmouth. 

Man's necessity is often the devil's o})portunity, ami it 
was wliiii Reed was disheartened by his ineilectual appeals 
to Congress in behalf of our half-clothed and half-starved 
soldiers, for whose sake he had well nigh impoverished him- 
self, that one of the fiercest temptations of his life assailed 
him. Ten thousand jiounds sterling and any otlice in the 
king's gift were offered him if he would renounce the 
American cause and use his inlhience to bring about a 
reconciliation between the two countries. Without a mo- 
ment's hesitation Reed proudly answered, " I am not worth 
purchasing, but, such as 1 am, the king of (iivat Pritain is 
not ricii enough to buy me! "' 

U7 



44 Records of t}ie 0>luiii/n<i Jlinforlcal ISocictjj 

In November of 177.S he wa^ unanimously elected presi- 
dent of the State of Pennsylvania, signed the articles of con- 
federation the same year, and in 17S1 was active in sup- 
pressing the revolt of the Pennsylvania line. During his 
presidency he aided in founding the University of Pennsyl- 
vania and used his influence for the gradual abolition of 
slavery and the annulling of the proprietary powers vested 
in the Penn family. At the expiration of his term of office, 
in 17S1, he resumed his practice, and died on the <Sth of 
March, 1785. He was buried beside his wife in the old 
Presbyterian burying-ground at the corner of Fifth and 
Arch .streets, Philadelphia. 

Reed was succeeded on the 10th of May, 177<'), by lioV)crt 
Hanson Harrison, who served until the 25th of March, 1781. 
Harrison was born in Maryland in 1745, and was educated 
for the law. As Washington's secretary he ranked as lieu- 
tenant colonel. T.und Washington appears to have been 
the intermediary in this appointment, for it was through 
him that the proposition was made to Harrison, and it was 
Lund who informed the general of Harrison's gratified ac- 
ce})tanee. 

"Mount Vkknon, Ortr. ')(Ji, 1775. 

"Dkaii Sik: 

******* 

" I cannot with certainty inform you by this letter whetlier 
Mr. Harrison will accept the offer you make him t)r not; l>ut 
1 can harilly think he or any othrr American would refuse 
j* " * * * 

'' Miirxr \'i;i:n(i\, Orlnhcr '['^(Ji, 1775. 
" I)i;ai; Sik: This letter 1 expect will be delivered to you 
by Mr. Harrison, who tliankfully accepted your invitation." 

In 1777 Harrison was appointed l)y Congress a meml)er 
of the board of war, but declined, preferring to remain on 
the staff of the eommander-in-ehief. < >n the loth of Mareh, 
1781 , he was ap|>uinted ehief justice of Maryland and tjuitted 

i»8 



SccrctarU-'i of (Iconje Wii^^liimilun l-' 

the army on the 2.")th of the s.inie iijoiith. W'ritiiitf to Wash- 
ington iVoin Anna|>olis on the 21.st of October foUo^vin<,^ he 
says : 

"lie pleased to aece[)t my sincere con.i^ratnlations, My 
De<ar Sir, upon the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. — 'I'hey 
are the Offerings of a Heart very warmly attached to Your 
Excellency & most zealously so to the interest & happiness 
of the States. This Event, for the wisdom ct vigor of the 
measures leading to it, it is the Voice of all here, is as hon- 
orable to You tt the Allied Army as it is advanciveof & 
interesting to the Common Cause." 

In ITSO he was appointed judge of tlie United States Su- 
preme Court, but declined this appointment also. He died 
in Charles county, Maryland, on the •21st of Ai)ril, ITOU. 

On the 21st of .June, 177(3, Alexander Coutee Hanson was 
appointed assistant secretary and acted in that capacity for 
several months, until prevented by ill health from render- 
ing further military service, though he continued to enjoy 
the friendship and confidence of Washington. Hanson was 
born on the 22d of October, 1740 ; was a delegate to the con- 
vention that ratified the Constitution, in 17SS. He declined 
a United States judgeship, but was chancellor of Maryland 
from 1780 until his death, in Annapolis, in ISOO. Under 
the title of the Hanson pamphlets the Maryland Historical 
Society has preserved some of his vigorous writings on the 
political tojiics of his day. 

Next in order of appointment was Colonel Tench Tilgh- 
man, who is always known as Washington's volunteer secre- 
tary. He was born on Christmas da}' of 1744, at Eausley, 
his father's plantation, on Eau.sley creek, a branch of the Saint 
Michaels river, in Talbot county, Maryland. His father 
was James Tilghman, a lawyer by profession, wlio removed 
from Chestertown, Maryland, to PhiladL'li)hia in 17G2 and 
held various ))Osts of trust and honor under the colonial 
cTovernment of iVnnsvlvania. 1 1 is mother was the ilaughter 
of Tench l-'rancis, senior, an eminent lawver and attornev- 



40 lUri)rdi< of (Jir (Johun/na J Historical SocUtj/ 

geueral of the pioviuce of IV-niisylvania. Tench Til«;]iman, 
one of a faniilv of twelve children and eldest of six boys, 
after receiving a thorough education under the best masters, 
entered into busiuesswith his uncle, Tench Francis, junior, 
in Philadelphia. So prosperous was this commercial enter- 
prise that ere the first battle of the Revolution had been 
fought the paitners liad secured a modest competency, but 
the beginning of hostilities was the end of Tilghinau's mer- 
cantile i)ursuits. He says: 

" Upon the breaking out of tlic troubles, I came to a de- 
termination to share the fate of my country: and that I 
mioht not be merelv a si)ectator, I made as hastv a close, as 
I possibly could, of my commercial affairs, making it a point 
to collect and deposit in safe hands, as much as would, when 
times and circumstances would permit, enable me to <lis- 
cliarge my European debts, which indeed were all I had." 

Fired by the news from Lexington and Concord, the young 
men of Philadelphia began to fit themselves for what each 
felt must come sooner or later. Military comjxmies were 
formed, officers chosen. Of the former, the most conspicu- 
ous was TJiC Ladies' Light Infaatry, called in derision " The 
Silk Stocking Brigade," of which Tench Tilghman was lieu- 
tenant. When this company was reorganized, in 1770, to 
form }»art of the Penn.sylvania quota, Tilghman was chosen 
cai)tain, and it became i)art of the famous Fli/ituf Camp. 
During the summer and fall of 1773 he held the important 
positions of .secretary, treasurer, and paymaster to the com- 
mission appointed by Congress to treat with the Six Nations. 
In August t)f rr7i'i he became a member of Washington's 
military family, and from that time until the surrender of 
Yorktown he was seldom absent from the cam{) of the com- 
mander-in-chief. He sharetl the fatigues and discourage- 
ments of that memorai)le retreat through the Jerseys ; the 
daring and danger of that midnight cro.'^sing of the Dela- 
ware; the eclat of tlie victories at Trenton and Princeton; 
the sorrow of the defeat at Prandywine and the cheek at 

lou 



Secretaries of George Washington 47 

Gennautown : the discomforts, lianlsliip-;. ami |»i-ivatioii> of 
the winter (luartors ;it Valley Forge; the masterly [)laiis hy 
which the forces were concentrated iit Yorktown, and the 
gloi-ies of its final surrender, which virtually ended the war. 
To Colonel Tilohman Washington intruste<l the pleasing 
duty of hearing his ofHcial communication to Congress of 
this proud event, making this tiattcring allusion to his mes- 
senger : 

" Ilon'e Thomas Mclvean, President of Congress: 

"Sir, * =(= * Coio. Tilghman, one of my aides-de- 
camp, will have the honor to deliver these dispatches to your 
excellency, lie will be able to inform you of eveiy minute 
circumstance which is not particularly mentioned in my 
letter. His merits, which are too well known to need my 
observations at this time, have gained ray particular atten- 
tion, and I could wisli that they may be honored by the 
notice of your excellency and Congress." 

This kimlly recommendation by the chief was honored 
by Congress, who ordered that "a horse with his caparisons' 
and a sword be presented by the board of war to Licut't 
Colo. Tilghman." lie was the prototype of the modern 
" our special correspondent at the seat of war," sending by 
express to Congress, at the special request of certain mem- 
bers, a daily letter giving the latest news of our own and 
the enemy's movements. Concerning his rank of lieuten- 
ant colonel an extract from a letter of Washington's to 
Ilun .lohn Sullivan, delegate to Congress, urging that body 
to .seitle definitely the rank of certain oflicer.? in the Conti- 
nental service, will be interesting as showing certain com- 
mendable traits in Tilghman's character. Washington 
writes: 

'• I also wish, though it is more a matter of private 
than public consideration, that the business could be taken 
up on account of Mr. Tilghman. whose ap|)ointment seems 
to depend on it: fur if there are men in the army deserving 

101 



4S Record-^ of (lie Cdanihia Historical Socicfij 

of the cointiiission i)roj)Osc(l for him, he is one of them. 
This gentleman came out a cjiptain of one of the hght 
infiintry companies of Phihulclphia, and served in the 
Flying ('amp in 177<i. In August of the same year he 
joined my family, and lias been in every action in which 
the main army was concerned. He has been a zealous 
servant and slave to the public, and a faithful assistant to 
me for nearly live years, a great part of which time he 
refused to receive pay. Honor and gratitude interest me in 
his favor, and make me solicitous to obtain his commission. 
His modesty and love of concord placed the date of his 
expected commission at the first of April, 1777, because he 
would not take rank of Hamilton and Meade, who were 
declared aides in order (which he did not choose to be), 
before that period, although he had joined my family and 
done all the duties of one from the first of September pre- 
ceding." 

That Tilghman, like many others, suffered from the envy 
and jealousy of some with whom he came in contact, who 
tried, though ineffectually, to prejudice the chief against 
him, may be gathered from a letter written to his brother, 
who wished to gain permission to go abroad : 

" 1Ii:ai> (^rAKTi;i;s, Xi:w Windsdh, 

" \-l(h Jane, 17S]. 
• .Mv 1)i;ak WiiJ.iAM 

" It gives me pain to tell you that I cannot, without sub- 
jecting myself J-o censure, interfere in the least, in j)rocuring 
vour recomnuMidations to go to Kngland by the way of 
France or llolhuul. 1 am placed in as delicate a situation 
as it is p>)ssible for a Man to be. I am, from my station, 
Master o( the most valuable Secrets of the Cabinet and the 
Firld. and it might give cause of umbrage and suspicion 
were I, at this critical Moment, to interest myself in pro- 
curing thepassage of a Brother to England. Tho' I may kimw 
his intentions are perfectly innocent, others may not or will 

1(12 



Secretaries of (Scorgc ]V(tsJiinr/(on 49 

not.. Yon cannot coiiccivf how many atlcni{»t.s have l>ccii 
niatl(\ sonic time a,i;d, to alarm tlio (Jenoral's suspicions, as 
to my l)cini;- near liis person — Thank < loil — I !<' \)i\< \n'Oi\ 
too gonerons to listen to thcni — and the many proofs I have 
given of my altaclimont have sileneetl every malignant 
whisper of the kind. As I never have given the least 
handle for censure, I am determined never to do it."' 

When Washington snrrendei"ed his commission as com- 
mander-in-chief, at Annapolis, on the 23(1 of Dccemher, 17S3, 
Tilghman was besitle him, ami, following the example of 
his chief, resigned his commission and became once more a 
private citizen. Locating at lialtimore, he again engaged 
in mercantile j)ursuits, at first on his own account, but soon 
after in connection with Mr Robert Morris. In June of 
1783 he had married his cousin, Anna Maria Tilghman, 
daughter of Matthew Tilghman, of Bay Side, Talbot county, 
Maryland. Two daughters were born to them, but the seeds 
of a talal disease had been sown in the father's constitution 
during that terrible winter at Valley Forge, and on the ISth 
of April, ITSC), in the forty-second year of his age, he [)as.sed 
away and was buried in the plot of ground, no longer used 
for the interment of the deail, on Lombard street between 
Green and l*aca streets, lialtiniore. 

The second aid-de-camp to be appointed assistant secre- 
tary was James McIIenry, of Pennsylvania. He entered 
the army as surgeon of the otli Pennsylvania battalion on 
the Kith of August, 177G, but was taken prisoner at Fort 
Washington on the IGth of November following. He re- 
mained a pi-isoner of war on parole until exchanged on the 
oth of March, 177S. Two months later, on the loth of May, 
he was chosen assistant secretary by the commander-in-chiel". 
That he longed for a more active participation in the war is 
shown by the following letter to his commander: 

'■ lIi:.\D Qu.VRTEUs, ISlIt Jail/, 1780. 
"Sir: I would beg leave to mention to your Excellency, 
a matter, in which I feel too much to be longer without 
u-Ki-..-. r..i.. ni.<T. Soc. 103 



50 Records of the Columbia Jlistorical SoeUiy 

hn'ing it before you. The approaching campaign oi>cning 
ail interesting Held, makes me desirous to appear, in a more 
military character, than that I now hold. I have also had 
before me for some time [tast, a prosj)ect of visiting Europe ; 
and especially those places where our interest is most cher- 
ished. And as my present character of Secretary, is not in 
the .same estimation, there, as with us, I would therefore 
request your Excellency that I may be considered as a vol- 
unteer. Hitherto, I have acted without pay, and it is my 
intention to receive none in future, unless some alteration 
in my circumstances renders it necessary. If I receive your 
permi-ssion, to serve as a volunteer, or accept such a station 
in the army as may i)lace me wholly, in a military liglit, I 
shall Ije happy, because, in it, I combine, with what I owe 
myself, that duty proper to my country. 

" I have the honor to be with tlie utmost respect. Your 
Excellency's 

"Mo.st obt. et hble servt. 

"James McHknky. 
" His Excellency 

General \\'A>iii.\(iTox."' 

On the 30th of October, 1780, he was transferred from 
Washington's to Lafayette's stalf, serving as aid-de-camp, 
with the rank of lieutenant colonel, until the 22d of Decem- 
ber, 17^1. I'^oin 17^.'> to 1780 he was a member of the 
Continental Congress, and in 1787 was one of the framers 
of the United States Constitution. On the 27th of January, 
17'.m;, he was again a.ssociated with Washington, succeeding 
Timothy Pickering as Secretary of War and holding that 
ollice until the l:')th of May, 1800. His death occurred on 
the 8th of May, 1810. 

Tin' last aid-de-camp to l)e appointed secretary was 
.Jonathan Trumbull, /unior, son of Connecticut's famous 
war gov( i-noi-, whose Christian name is said to have fur- 
nislied the s()liri([Uet for the Cnited States (brother Jona- 
than). .Jonathan, junior, was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, 

104 



Sccrrdtrlcs of (tcorf/e WksIiIih/Ihh 51 

on till' -JiUli of Nfarcli, 17 li>. II. • was a i;ra(luat(/ of liarvaid 
aiul a proininciit nicinUci- of the state le<;islalure fur several 
scs.sioiis i.i'ior to and at the conimeneeinent of the Revolu- 
tion. Duriiit;- the first three years of the war he was [)ay- 
niaster to the northern department of the army, and on the 
8th of June, 1781, was ai)i)ointed aid-dc-camp and secretary 
to the commander-in-chief. When the position was ten- 
dered to him he wrote the foUowin-;- n^ply : 

" Leb-vnon 'Iltli April 1781. 
"Dr.vr Gkxkrai. Returng. Yesterday from a Journey 
Eastward as far as Boston on which f had been employed 
for a l'\)rtni^ht, I found your l']xcellency's Letter of the Kith 
waiting for me, with a Rroi)osal for my joining your Family 
in the Capacity of a Secretary. * * The Idea is so 

new A: unexpected — and my other Iilugagements (exclusive 
of my Family, private Business & domestic CJoncerns) are 
such as will render it very dithcult for me to make a Com- 
pliance to your Excellency's Request — tho' at the same Time 
I have to confess that it will give me great Pain, if on full 
Consideration, I shall find myself obliged to make a Re- 
fusal ; as my Inclination would lead me to fulfill your every 
Wi^l, — ^ be assured Sir! — my Ambition would be liighly 
o-ralilied by so near an Admission to the Person & (.'onti- 
dence of General Washington. =^ * * On the whole I 
must beg vour Excellency's Permission for a short Time to 
consult my own mind & tho.se of my Friends on this sub- 
jt.^.t — A: in the meantime sutler me t(j suggest that your 
Excellency will be pleased to turn your Mind on some other 
Person who may eventually be called to this Service — some 
others I can readily conceive may be found who will per- 
form it with greater Abilities but no one 1 dare say will 
accept whose cliearfull Readiness & utmost Endeavours to 
fulfill your Excellency's Wishes will be greater (if Circum- 
stances shall permit) tiian mine." 

On the "JOth of .July. 17s;j. he writes from N'ewburgh U) 
Washington, who is absent for a time from headquarters, 

105 



52 Hcconh of tlie Cnluiuliin IHMorical Sockt]i 

giviiif,' liiin tlio news ui> to date, and a(l<liiii,^ the followiii^^ 
postscrij)! : 

" P. 8. Mrs. Wasliino^toii iiol writing, desires luc to inlbriii 
[you] that slie is as well as when your Excellency left her." 

His olhee terminated witli the disbanding of the army, 

23d of December, ITS:]. Subsequently he was member of 

Congress from 17S1) to 1705, Speaker of the House during 

the last four years of the time, United States Senator from 

1795 to 1796, lieutenant governor of Connecticut from 17.»0 

to 1798, governor from 1798 to 1809, and died on the 7th 

of August of that year. 

Of theseven military secretariesof the revolutionary iieriod, 

Richard Variek alone was not an aid-de-carap, but bore the 
distinctive title of rcconUiKj secrdar;/. He was born in Hack- 
eusack. New Jersey, on the 2r)th of March, 1753, and his 
family name was originally \'an \'ariek. .\l the beginning 
of hostilities he was a practicing lawyer in Xew York city. 
Entering the army a captain in McDougall's regiment, he 
was sooM after appointed military secretary to CJeneral 
Schuyler, then in command of the northern division. Later 
he was made deputy mustermaster general, with the rank 
of lieutenant-colonel, and served in that capacity until after 
the surrender of Burgoyne, in October, 1777. when he was 
appointed inspector g(>neral at West Point and aid-de-eamp 
to P)enediet Arnold, whose soldierly qualities won his ad- 
miration and whose ti'eason eame near driving N'arick in- 
sane. Summarily dismissed from the army by Congress 
because of his "unhappy connexion with the guilty Ar- 
nold," he was afterward, through the interposition of friends^ 
<rranted the benefit of a court of inquii-y. Pending his trial 

to 

he wrote to Washington from — 

"UoniNsoN's llorsK, October 2itli, 1780. 

5|c * * i: * * * 

"As it iiiav he of essential luqiortanee to Me, to i)e fur- 
nished with the 'r.-timony of one of the Centlemen of Your 

iik; 



Sccrrfnrirs of (Icorfjc Wdslilnfjlon 53 

lOxcellciicy's Family, with respect to my ('oiuliict, on ami 
al'tcr the ^."ith September, it whether the Papers taken on 
A ml rr were in my llaml W'ritin;;- : I havi' i>y this convoy- 
anee reiiucsto.l Colo. lEamilton to bo so oblit^nn<; as to send 
mo his by the first Opportunity Least those from Meade tt 
Harrison should not reach me in .Season or not be broad 
enou>;h. with respect to the Pa[)ers taken on Andn'-." 

Exonerated from all com|)licity in Arnold's infamous 
scheme, he soon after received a wonderful proof of Wash- 
inoton's thoroui^h belief in his innocence, the chief tender- 
ing him the position of recording; secretary. His letter of 
acceptance bears date Albany, May 2'), 17SI, and is in part 
as follows : 

" [ do therefore take this Opportunity of accej)tin[^ the 
singular Trust so politely proferred to me & shall deem my- 
self happy if my Services & Attention on this Occasion 
may be such as to merit Approbation & prove the Propriety 
of Your Excellency's Choice. I snail set out for Camp in a 
very few Days, where T can be better informed how .soon the 
Papers will be ready f)r Transcription & tak*.' Measures 
accordingly. * * When I was at Poughkeepsie I 

mentioned the Matter to Governor Clinton & requested his 
(Jj>inion as to the Practicability of getting proper Assistance 
at that Place, he inl'ormed me that he could recommend at 
least two Persons who are capable it to be confided in, I be- 
lieve 1 shall be able to engage; the others in this Place or its 
\'icinity ; on the proper Characters 1 will advise with (ien'l 
Schuyler." 

From a letter to Jonathan Trumbull, junior, we find that 
he began his work on the 7th of June, 1781. lie adds: 

"The Terms the Cen'l proposed were to be on an c(|ual 
footing with Youiself with lles[)ect to pay Sc subsistence 
Money. I wish this to [be] specified, as also that the Pay 
to Myself it Writers should be in Specie or its etjuivalent. 

1U7 



51 h'cconls uf the Colaiiiljid llidorlaxl Socidi/ 

Let it be mentioned in particular about the Writers as 
His Excellency's promise, they now hold me in the Gap- 

* * * The Room in which the Office is kept ou(:jht to 
be paitl for by the Public — my Lodging is an Affair of my 
own. ^ * * I ^vish farther to be empowered to give one 
of the Writers UO Dollars i)r. Mo. as they draw no liations 
or any Thing else ct I wish one, besides his Ordinary Duty 
at Office Hours, in the Absence of the Other to Assist me in 
Examining the Papers, this will justly deserve some Com- 
pensation." 

By the P.tth of July he was ready to report progress to 
Washington : 

" POUGHKEEPSIE Jull/ V-UJl 178L 

"Dk.vii Sir I have the Honor of informing Your Excel- 
lency that I arrived at this Place on Saturday the 7th. 

* * * I>y numbering and digesting into Classes the 
Coi)ios of Letters & Orders in 1775 & 1770 I found tliat 
some essential ones were wanting. * * * j therefore 
thought it expedient before I employed the Writers, to sort 
& digest the whole of the Original Letters & Copies for 1775, 
1770, 1777 & 1778 A: All the other Papers, to find them tt 
such other Copies as thro' hurry were misfiled, that I might 
not bo deemed guilty of Blunders which it was in my Power, 
by timely Precautions, to prevent. "^ * The A^iriety 
of Movements & Hands which the Pa))ers have gone thro*, 
have causeil many of them to be improperly [)acked to- 
gether, so as to re(iuire the most exact et unintermitted At- 
tention as well as .some Time, to indor.se, arrange c^c digest 
tiiem in jU'oper Oi'der. 

'• I tlatter myself that this consideration alone, inde- 
pendent of tile above Embarrassment, will excul{>ate me in 
Your 0{)inion of a seeming Delay in setting the Writers to 
Business. — I am, however, happy to inform Your Excel- 
lency that 1 now have the whole in such a State of Ftirward- 
ness as to en;ii>le two Writers to commence in two Day^^ c^' a 
third in live Days thereafter. * * * Least any Concern 

108 



Secret (irlc-f of (lcor(jc W'nshini/lon T).") 

may taku l*hu"(^ with Kospect to tlio Security of the imblic 
Pa|)cr.s, I think it projuM" to infonn ^'our l'>xc'ellency tliat I 
have taken '^Uiarters at huetor iVler Tniijien's an hnnest 
Patriot i^' Ih-d. in Law to the CJenl. whore my (Jharge is per- 
fectly secure l*c rendered (if pos:<ible) more so by its I'ropin- 
quity to the Ciovernor's Quarters, who is furnished with a 
Guard, l^ut witliout this f should not apprehend the least 
Danger, as the Inhabitants are generally Whigs. 

" I heartily wish You success in Your Military Operations 
tt am with the most perfect Respect & Esteem Your Ivxcel- 

lency's Most Obliged Obcdt. Servt. 

■• UlClIAUD \'.\i:iCK 

"His Excellency Genl. \V.vsiiin(;t<>x." 

In February of llS'l he had a grievance to state: 

" PuuGiiKEErsiE Febij. 7, 1782 

•' Since m}' Letter of the 14th Mr. Hughes, one of the 
Writers who, tho capable, had been fre(iuently too inatten- 
tive to the Manner of executing his Duty, took my frefpient 
Reproofs & Directions in Dudgeon & quitted the Service, 
after having compleated two Volumes (from the 1st Jany. 
to the 10th Septr. 1779.) — This was the ostensible business ; 
but the real one was a Disapi)ointment in his Wishes and 
lvx[)ectations to make a Juhh of the Jkisiness."' 

Fi'om his accounts we glean the names of six " writers " — 
Mr ZacchcTUs Sickels, Mr Oliver Glean, Mr Myer, Mr Duns- 
comb, Mr Hughes (the last three were discharged), and Mr 
George Taylor, .Ir. His labors wore ended on the l^th of 
August, 17S:j, when the books and |»apors of his excellency 
were packed u]), ready to be returned, and Varick's appoint- 
ment terminated on the 23d of December following. Sub- 
sequently he was recorder of the city of New York, speaker 
of the house of assembly, attorney general of the State, 
mayor of the city, and, with Samuel .hmos, was api)ointod 
to revise the State laws. He was one of the founders of the 

109 



oi) Records of the Colainbia Jlidorical Kiocicty 

American l>ible Society, and on the resignation of John Jay 
was elected its president. He is described as of imposing 
presence, being over six feet in height. He died in Jersey 
City on the 30lh of July, 1831. 

Passing from the stirring inciilents of the cainj* and fol- 
lowinu- Washington to his dearly loved Mount Vernon, we 
begin to gather from his diary and correspondence the 
names and characteristics of a succession of private secre- 
taries. William Shaw, of Virginia, writing to Washington 
from Dumfries on the 4th of July, 1785, says he hopes his 
" Excellency will not think £50 sterling per ann. with Bed, 
Board, Washing, &ca. too great a Demand, as I Can assure 
you, I have refus'd much greater offers but Prefer Staying 
with you for a less Sum, as it will entitle me to be in Better 
Company, & a Genteeler line of Life." He signs him.self 
" Believe me to be with respect Your Excellency's Mo. Obed't 
Servt.," and adds a postscript: " Please let the Ladies know 
that there are Black & White Sattin Shoes here, & if they 
Wish any to Send their Measure, & I shall do myself the 
Pleasure of getting them." On tlie 12tli of the same montii 
he writes to say that he is sorry the sum he mentioned is 
thought too much, but will come for whatever Washington 
thinks his .services are worth. L(joking through the Cen- 
eral's diary, one feels that in his dealings with young Shaw 
he kept in view the old adage that "all work and no play 
makes Jack a dull i)oy," for Mr Shaw goes to the races. ri<les 
after the hounds, and attends many an "a-sembly" and 
"dance" in Alexandria. Two entries in Washington's 
diary fix the date of his coming and going with accuracy: 

"Tuesday 2Gth July 176.") * * * With Mrs. Wash- 
ington, Miss Ba.ssett and the two children I dined at Mr. Linid 
Washington's. — On my return, founil Mr. Will Shaw (whom 
I had engaged to live with me as a Book keeper, Secretary, 
ctca.) here." 

"August, Sunday 13, 1780 * * * Mr. Shaw (piitted 

this family to day." 

110 



Secretaries of f/corgc ]Vtis]iiii;/l>m. 57 

hi ITsr. \\'a<liiii_L;t<)n l.ci^an rorrcspoiKliiit; with frioiuls in 
roferonoo to a suitablo tutor for his adoptcil children—* leor^e 
Washini^ton Parkoand Miss Nclho I'arkeCusti.s— and throu,<;h 
General Lincoln hears of Tobias Lear. A letter under date 
of February <;, 178<), from Washington to Lincoln defines 
the duties and privileges of the person wanted with accu- 

i-acy : 

" MorxT Vkknon, G Fchniarij, IT-SG. 

"My Deak Sir * * ^ Mr. Lear, or any other who 
niav conu' into my family in the blended characters of pre- 
ceptor to the children, and clerk or i)rivate secretary to me, 
will sit at my table, will live as 1 live, will mix with the 
comj.any who resort to the house, and will be treated in 
every respect with civility and proper attention. Jle will 
have his washing done in the family, and may have his 
linen and stockings mended by the maids of it. The duties 
which will be recjuired of him, arc generally such as apper- 
tain to the offices above mentioned. The first will be very 
trilling, till the children area little more advanced ; and the 
other will be ecjually so, as my correspondences decline 
(which I am endeavouring to ettect) and alter my accounts 
and other old matters are brought up. To descend more 
minutely into his duties I am unable, because occasional 
matters may call for particular services; but nothing derog- 
atory will be asked or expected. After this explanation of 
my wants, I request that Mr. Lear will mention the annual 
sum he will expect for these services, and I will give him a 
decided answer by th.e return of the stages, which now carry 
the mail and travel quickly. A good hand, as well as 
j)ioi)er diction, would be a recommendation on account of 
fair entries, and for the benefit of the chihlren who will 
have to copy after it." 

On the 7th of >Lay following Lear writes to Washiugton 
that (leneral Lin.coln has let him see tiie letter in which 
Washington accedes to his request for §"200 per annum, and 
adds: 

].-,_Kk... Ci. Hist. Soc. 1" 



")S Itccords of the Colam/jia m.-^torical Socictj/ 

" If I find an opportunity of going by Water I shall em- 
Wace it immediately and be with your Excellency in about 
three weeks, but if an opportunity does not offer in a few 
(hiys 1 shall set off by the stages, and very probably be at 
Mount Vernon soon after you receive this. I am with senti- 
ments of the greatest Respect Your Excellency's most Obed't 
llum'e Serv't." 

Lear was born in Portsmouth, New 1 lampshire, Septem- 
ber 19th, 17G2; graduated from Harvard in 1783, and be- 
came Washington's private secretary in 17S<'). lie married, 
for his second wife, the widow of one of Washington's 
favorite nephews; was generously remembered in the Gen- 
eral's will, and has the distinction of having received his 
last words. The January [ISDoJ number of the Spirit of '76 
states that "in 17US, when Washington accepted the com- 
mand of the provisional army, Mr Lear was selected as the 
military secretary, with the rank of colonel," but official data 
are not at hand to verify this statement. In l.SOl he was 
consul-general at Saint Domingo; from 1804 to 1812, consul- 
general at Algiers and a commissioner to conclude a peace 
with Tripoli. At his death, which occurred in the city of 
Washington, October 1»», 1810, he was an accountant in the 
War Department. 

David Humphreys, born in Derby, Connecticut, in 17"'i!, 
was aid-de-camp to Washington from 1780 to the end of the 
war. His name appears in the journals of Congress as 

follows : 

''Resolved, That an elegant sword be presented, in the 
name of the United States in Congress assembled, to Colo. 
Humphreys, an aid-de-camp of General Washington, to 
whose care the standards, taken under the capitulation of 
York, were consigned, as a testimony of their opinion of 
his fidelity and ability and that the board of war take order 
thci-rin." 

lie was an honi)re<l gurst at .Mount Wriion for nearly a 

irj 



Senrfariffi of Gconjc Wasliinr/toii f)!) 

year after the return of its master. lIj)on the ()r;;ani/,atio:i 
of the FecK-ral (lovermiieiit he aceoiiipauicfl W'ashiiiL'toii to 
Xew ^'()|•k aiul aete<l as his secretai-y until 171*". Many 
letters on lile in thr Department of State bear his signature, 
in that capaeity. In 1780, while on a mission south to treat 
with th<^ southern Inilians, he writes to the President as 
fuUows : 

" pETEiisiuitG OcCr 2S(h 1780. 
'• .Mv I)i;ai: (Ii:nkuai> * * * j liave taken consider- 
able pains to learn linw ijie persons ap[)()inteel to olliees in 
the sev(M'al .States are considered by their fellow Citizen.s; tt 
am happy to assure you that the appointments in general 
have met with almost universal approbation. The selection 
of Characteis to till the great Departments has afforded 
entire satisfa(;tion ; j)articularly in the Judiciary I heard it 
repeatedly said in Halifax, that the Supreme Court would 
be the first Court in the world in point of respectability. 
The.se things cannot but augur well. * * * j ^y\\] ,jq^ 
intrude any longer on your time, than to assure you, that I 
am with the most unalteraide & perfect friendship my dear 
general i.tca 

" D. IIr.Mi'iiiu:vs. 

•'To the I'kksident oe tiii-: United States." 

In 17'.'i) he was a])i)ointiMl ministerto Portugal, and at the 
moment of embarking wrote to Washington as follows: 

•' New Voijk: Scpleniher ls( 1700 
"Mv DEAR (Ie.neiiae In taking leave of you, at the 
moment of your departure, while I strove in vain to i-heek 
an impulse which 1 apprehended betrayed too much weak- 
ness, I found the burden on my heart choaked the passage 
of utterance. In that moment a multitmleof ideas crowded 
into my mind. A long seperation iVom one's frieiuls it 
country umler an idea of going into a nation where one is 
a total stranger, however flattering or useful the object may 
be which occasions it, is, in .some respects, like a voluntary 
exile. * * * \^ I ^vas unable to say what I wished to 

ii;; 



00 Itccords of the Colmnhin Historical Socivt;/ 

liave said, I thovi^^ht I would take this occasion of \vritin<i; a 
line to you, i)revious to my leaving the Continent, which 
might remain as a proof of my gratitude for all your kind- 
ness, and a pledge of my honest zeal to justify your indul- 
gent sentiments in my belialf, by the execution of my duty 
in the best manner my abilities will allow. * * * 1 
have kept this letter open untill tlie moment in which I 
should be called to (Mubark. The tide & wind now suffer us 
to sail. Xo farther delay is permitted. The last act I shall 
do on shore, previous to my voyage, will be to assure you, 
that, of all the Admirers of your character or friends to your 
person, there is no one who feels a more disinterested & in- 
violable attachment, than, My dear general 

" Your sincere friend & Most obliged Servant 

" D. IIlMrilKKYS.'' 

His life was a busy one, filled with military, diplomatic, 
and literary pursuits. He died in New Haven, February 
21, LSI 8. 

William Jackson, born in Cumberland, England. March !», 
1750, but brought as an orphan, at an early age, to this 
country, was lil)orally educated in tiie colonies, and entered 
the army in 1775. He was in .ictive service until 1780, 
when he was made prisoner at the capture of Charleston. 
He gained his title of major while an aid-de-cam]> to the 
commander-in-chief. In April, 17S7, he wrote to Washing- 
ton, asking his inliiicnc'e to hav<- him appninted secretary to 
the federal convention, and on the 17th of Srpteml)er fol- 
lowing he wrote : 

"Major Jacksju, aftei burning all tlie loose .^eraps of 
l)ap(,'r which belong to the ("onvention, will this evening 
wait upon the CJeneral with the -Journals and other j.apers 
which their vote directs to be delivered to His Excel- 
lency." 

I'^-om 17M> to 17'-':'. he was |ii'ivate secretary to the Presi- 
dent. In.lulv of 17'>ii, having heard that Mr Otis, secretary 

114 



to the iSeiiate, would probably soon ivsi^^n to take another 
ofHee, he writes to Washiii<;toii to bespeak his influeiiee lo 
have him ai)[)oii)te(l Otis' successor and gives tiie followiug 
reason : 

"Several years are past since my affections were <,Mven to 
a Lady in Philadelphia whose name delicacy reipiires me 
to leave uncnuiU'chMl with a K'tter — they were I'cturncil and 
my ha|>piness wanted only the aid of fortune to have been 
completed. To obtain the consent of friends, whose consent 
was essential to my happiness, some certainty of income was 
necessary : but alas, 1 have not possessed that certainty, and 
I have hitherto been unhapjiy. The present object with the 
assistance of what I might derive from another pursuit, in 
the recess of Congress, would confirm to me an expectation 
of happiness dearer to me than all otlu-r hopes."' 

A year later, hearing that the Postmaster General is about 
to resign, he writes again to Washington and wishes to sub- 
mit himself as successor, but adds: 

" Could I believe, Sir, that your a})probation of my wish 
(should I be so hapjiy as to obtain it) could be construed 
into an act of partiality towards a jn-rson of your family — 
interesting as the completion of this wish is to my happi- 
ness — I would not desire it — Xo, Sir, I would not consent 
that, in this only instance, you should besu[)posed to depart 
from that im[iai-tiai justice, which characterises all your ac- 
tions and has given unlimited t-onlidence to your adtninis- 
tration." 

In 17l>o he marri^'d i:ii/,ai)(.'th Willing, of lMiila(kd|diia, 
the lady of his choice. The same year, whik' Washington 
was deprived of the services of Mr Dandridge because of 
his severe illness, Jackson wrote to the President : 

" [Piiii.ADKi.i'ni A j Pink Stkkkt No. t;7 — 

''AiKjud 25, 1705. 

"Presuming that in the absence of .Mr I )andridg.', and 
un<ler the pressure of puidic business, you might possibly 

11.3 



02 Records of the (Julo.inliui Hidurical ^ocidij 

have occasion for that kin<l of as.si.staiico which I slioukl be 
ca[)able of ren<lei'iug — I beg leave to entreat, if .such assist- 
ance can be useful, that you will command my best services 
while you continue on your present visit to Phihulelphia. 

"As I am waiting the issue of some arrangements before I 
enter upon my plans of |)rivate business, my time is, at pres- 
ent unoccupied. — And my heart, head and hands cannot be 
more gratefully emjdoyed than in a disinterested demon- 
stration of the perfect esteem ami atlectionate attachment, 
with which I am, Sir, Your most oljliged and faithful 
servant. " 

In 170(5 Jackson was appointed surveyor of the port of 
Philadeli)hia. He was .secretary to the Society of the Cin- 
cinnati for twenty-eight years and delivered the funeral 
oration upon Washington in Philadelphia. lie died in 
1828, his wife surviving him for thirty years. 

Bartholomew Dandridgc, of Virginia, nephew to Mrs 
Washington, writes from Baltimore, July 14. 1792, to Colonel 
Vanhorne, " By order of the President of the United States, 
I beg to inform 3'ou," etc, showing that he had been added 
to the list of secretaries. In May, 170(1, after a severe spell 
of illness, he writes to the President from (Ireenbriar Court 
lIou.se: 

" In case you do not wish to give me my place in your 
service, 1 may endeavour to obtain one somewhere or 
other. \\\ thu last event, I must bt\g of you to enclose me a 
certificate of the time 1 lived with you ct of my conduct 
during that time. As I am sure you will do this with strict 
justice, it will Iiu serviceabk- to me. You may obtain many 
who are in some respects more ca[)able of doing yinir busi- 
ness, but I can truly say you will not find one who will be 
more faithful to your interest, according to my ability." 

He ends l>y suggesting that if the President does not need 
111 111 as a secretary, he should be glad to be employed as an 
agent for disposing of Washington's lands on the (.)hio. 

m; 



Secretaries of Georr/c Wdshiiu/loii C3 

III ^^,•l^rll of IT'-'T \\';isliiiit;(()ii wrote for I ),iiiiiriil^(' such a 
ti'stiinonial as ho asked the year herorc lie speaks in high 
approbation of Daixlridge's eondnet during the six years ho 
hail l)ecn a ineiMi)er of hi> family, refers to the new eareer 
opening before the young man, and reminds liim, " but I 
am sure you will never forget that, without virtue ct without 
integrity, the finest talents &, the most brilliant accomplish- 
ments can never gain the respect or conciliate the esteem of 
the truly valuable part of mankind." 

George Washington Craik, of N'irginia, son of I)r James 
Craik, whom Washington in his will calls " my compatriot 
in arms, my old and intimate friend,"' was one of several 
youths who, bearing the general's name, were in [)art edu- 
cated at his expense. A letter is on file in the Dei>artment 
of State, bearing date November 0, 1790, written from Phila- 
delphia, and signed by Craik as secretary to the President, 
showing that he had been selected to fill the i»osition during 
Dandridge's illness. 

As early as 1785 Washington wrote to Tench Tilghman 
concerning a Mr Pawlins : 

" MorxT Veknon- '20lh Aiif/'t 1785. 
" Dkar Sir * :;: * \g j seem to bo in the habit of 
giving you trouble, I beg the favor of you to cause the 
inclosed letter to be delivered to Mr Pawlins — 1 leave it 
open for your perusal — my reason for it is, that thereby 
seeing my wants, you would be so obliging as to give me 
your oj>inion of Mr Rawlins with respect to his abilities and 
diligence as a workman — whether he is reckoned moderate 
or high, in his charges — and whether there is much call, at 
this time, for a man of his |)rofession at IJaltimore — for on 
this, I ]>resume, his high or moderate terms will greatly 
depend." 

As Albin Rawlins did not apply for tin- position until 
171'8, the first may have beim thf elder brother to whom ho 
refers in his a[iplication. On the "iOth of .January, 17'.*8, 

117 



64 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



002 792 05G 
Records of the Columbia Historical ^ocidij 



writing to Washi 111,4011 fro:n Hanover Court House ami 
oiroriiig himself as secretary, he states tliat (ieiieral Spots- 
\vo(j(l had told his (Rawlins') hrother that Washington was 
in need of sueh a person. He asks .^loO per annum, and 
adds that he can get a recommendation from any gentle- 
man in Hanover or Caroline of his acquaintance, and signs 
himself, " I am houor'd Sir Y'r Ob't Serv't," hut the honor d 
is added with a caret and is evidently the result of an after- 
thouglit. There was some delay in his getting the position, 
and he seems to have been a young man of" affiiirs," for he 
always refers to important private business he should like 
the time to attend to. He was evidently proud of his ]>eu- 
manship, for ho adds a postscript to his last letter, stating, 
" The letters you received from mo were of my own writing." 
He sets the date of his advent at Mount Vernon as March 
20, 179S. 

Of the military and private secretaries given above, none 
but Lear seems to have used his office as a distinctive title, 
for during Washington's administrations he always signed 
his official letters, " Tobias Lear, Secretary to the President 
of the United States." — [Columbia flisloi ical Societij, Januari/ 
7, 1805.] 



lis 



LiBRfiRY OF CONGRESS 



002 792 055 1 



Hollinger Corp. 
pH8.5 



